arpeggiation
Notes played sequentially
Arpeggiation is the technique of playing the notes of a chord in succession rather than simultaneously.
The term comes from arpeggio, which imitates the sweeping motion across harp strings.
Guitarists and pianists use arpeggiation to create flowing, rippling textures: Her arpeggiation gave the ballad its dreamlike quality.
The technique appears across classical, jazz, and popular music.
Notes sounded simultaneously
- triadGroup of three
- seventhOrdinal for seven
- diminishedMade or became smaller
- augmentedIncreased in size/value
major · minor · dominant · tonic · interval · root · inversion · resolution
Plucking strings directly
- fingerpickingPlucking strings by hand
- sweepBrush clean with broom
- plectrumString-plucking implement
- pickPointed breaking tool
fretboard · tapping · classical guitar · flamenco · open strings · capo · acoustic · electric
Chord tones played successively
- fingeringNote-playing hand technique
- rollingTurning over repeatedly
- spreadingExtending over space
- voicingExpressing aloud
hand position · pattern · sequencing · articulation · legato · staccato · damping · sustain
Rapid pitch sweep
- stringsThin flexible lines
- pluckingRemoving by tugging
- Celtic harpTraditional Gaelic stringed instrument
- concert harpLarge orchestral plucked instrument
lyre · zither · psaltery · angelic · cascading · flowing · rippling
chord
Notes sounded simultaneously
- triadGroup of three
- seventhOrdinal for seven
- diminishedMade or became smaller
augmented · major · minor · dominant · tonic · interval · root · inversion · resolution · cadence
fingerstyle
Plucking strings directly
- fingerpickingPlucking strings by hand
- sweepBrush clean with broom
- plectrumString-plucking implement
pick · fretboard · tapping · classical guitar · flamenco · open strings · capo · acoustic · electric · Segovia
broken chord
Chord tones played successively
voicing · hand position · pattern · sequencing · articulation · legato · staccato · damping · sustain · velocity
glissando
Rapid pitch sweep
- stringsThin flexible lines
- pluckingRemoving by tugging
- Celtic harpTraditional Gaelic stringed instrument
concert harp · lyre · zither · psaltery · angelic · cascading · flowing · rippling
keys
Lock-operating instruments
upright · accompaniment · left hand · right hand · crossing · octaves · register · keyboard · touch · recital
sequencer
Orders signals chronologically
modular · analog · oscillator · patch · DAW · electronic · synth · clock · tempo · subdivisions