arpeggio: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Formal (primarily music)
Quick answer
What does “arpeggio” mean?
a chord played as a series of individual notes in succession, either ascending or descending, rather than simultaneously.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a chord played as a series of individual notes in succession, either ascending or descending, rather than simultaneously.
A technique or musical figure where the notes of a chord are played sequentially. This term can also be used metaphorically to describe anything that resembles this broken-chord pattern in movement or structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage. The spelling is consistent. Pronunciation differences follow general UK/US patterns for the vowel in the second syllable.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties. The word carries an association with classical or sophisticated music technique.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects. Its use is confined to musical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “arpeggio” in a Sentence
VERB + arpeggio (play, practise, execute, compose)ADJ + arpeggio (ascending, descending, broken, rapid)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arpeggio” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The piece requires the pianist to arpeggiate the left-hand chords.
American English
- She arpeggiated the final chord for a more dramatic effect.
adverb
British English
- The chord should be played arpeggiando, as indicated.
American English
- The notes rolled out arpeggiato, creating a harp-like effect.
adjective
British English
- The étude is famous for its challenging arpeggiated passages.
American English
- He composed an arpeggiated line for the synth pad.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in musicology, theory, and performance studies texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation unless discussing music.
Technical
Core terminology in music composition, performance, and pedagogy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arpeggio”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “arpeggio”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arpeggio”
- Misspelling as 'arpaggio' or 'arpegio'.
- Mispronouncing the 'g' as soft /dʒ/ in all syllables (correct is /ˈpɛdʒ/).
- Using it as a verb without derivation ('to arpeggio' is non-standard; use 'play an arpeggio').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while fundamental to classical technique, arpeggios are extensively used in jazz, rock, pop, and electronic music for solos, accompaniments, and melodic figures.
Piano, guitar, harp, and synthesizers are most associated with arpeggios, but any polyphonic instrument (like strings or woodwinds in an ensemble) can play arpeggiated lines.
A scale is a sequence of individual notes from a key (e.g., C, D, E, F...). An arpeggio is a sequence of the individual notes that form a specific chord (e.g., C, E, G, the notes of a C major chord).
Not in standard usage. The correct verb is 'arpeggiate.' You 'play an arpeggio' or 'arpeggiate a chord.'
a chord played as a series of individual notes in succession, either ascending or descending, rather than simultaneously.
Arpeggio is usually technical/formal (primarily music) in register.
Arpeggio: in British English it is pronounced /ɑːˈpɛdʒɪəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɑːrˈpɛdʒioʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ARRow PEdaling Gently Over Ice, tracing a rising and falling path like the notes of an arpeggio.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CASCADING/RISING SEQUENCE (The arpeggio cascaded down the keyboard like a waterfall of notes).
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'arpeggio' primarily?