arpeggio

[ ahr-pej-ee-oh, -pej-oh ]

/ ɑrˈpɛdʒ iˌoʊ, -ˈpɛdʒ oʊ /

the sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously.

a chord thus sounded.

Also called broken chord.

Origin of arpeggio

1735–45; < Italian: literally, a harping, noun derivative of arpeggi(are) to play on the harp (< Germanic; compare Old English hearpi(g)an to harp)

ar·peg·gi·at·ed, ar·peg·gi·oed, adjective

arp, arpa, arpanet, arpeggiate, arpeggiation, arpeggio, arpent, arpino, arquebus, arquebusier, arr.

Accordingly an open, flowing style (arpeggio) is one of the idioms best suited to its nature.

Music: An Art and a Language |Walter Raymond Spalding
The most essential figures which Beethoven employs are built upon the scale and the arpeggio.

Beethoven: A Memoir (2nd Ed.) |Elliott Graeme
There must be scale and arpeggio study, in which the metronome can be used.

Piano Mastery |Harriette Brower
I amused myself by playing an arpeggio when Schikaneder came to a pause.

Life Of Mozart, Vol. 3 (of 3) |Otto Jahn

If due attention be given to the intonation of the arpeggio, the scale should not be, as it too often is, all out of tune.

The Boy's Voice |J. Spencer Curwen

arpeggio

/ (ɑːˈpɛdʒɪəʊ) /

a chord whose notes are played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously

an ascending and descending figuration used in practising the piano, voice, etc

C18: from Italian, from arpeggiare to perform on the harp, from arpa harp