broken chord: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical (Music), Formal/Descriptive
Quick answer
What does “broken chord” mean?
A chord whose notes are played in succession (arpeggiated) rather than simultaneously.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chord whose notes are played in succession (arpeggiated) rather than simultaneously.
In a broader or metaphorical sense, anything that suggests a sequence of elements forming a disrupted or non-simultaneous whole, such as a staggered series of events or a fragmented structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is identical and used identically in both technical and general contexts.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. In metaphorical use, it carries the same sense of sequenced or non-simultaneous deployment.
Frequency
Frequency is identical and very high in musical contexts, very low in general discourse in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “broken chord” in a Sentence
[verb] a broken chord (play, perform, use)a broken chord [verb] (ascends, descends, accompanies)[adjective] broken chord (arpeggiated, simple, rapid)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broken chord” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pianist will arpeggiate the chord.
- She broke the chord beautifully in the left hand.
American English
- The guitarist arpeggiated the chord.
- He broke the chord into a flowing pattern.
adverb
British English
- The chord was played broken, note by note.
- He performed the passage quite brokenly to emphasise each tone.
American English
- Play the chord broken, from the bottom up.
- The music flowed brokenly, like a stream over stones.
adjective
British English
- The broken-chord accompaniment created a harp-like effect.
- It was a characteristic broken-chord figure.
American English
- The broken-chord pattern is common in New Age piano music.
- She practiced her broken-chord exercises.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The marketing campaign was launched in a broken chord, staggering the regional releases.'
Academic
Common in musicology texts. Occasionally in arts/humanities to describe sequential structures.
Everyday
Very rare, limited to conversations about playing music.
Technical
Standard, core terminology in music theory, composition, and performance instruction.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broken chord”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broken chord”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broken chord”
- Using it interchangeably with 'arpeggio' in strict theory (an arpeggio is the *technique* of playing broken chords).
- Confusing it with a 'melody' or a 'scale'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related. An 'arpeggio' is the technique of playing the notes of a chord in succession (i.e., playing a broken chord). The 'broken chord' is the resulting sound or the conceptual entity.
Absolutely. Broken chords are fundamental to harp, guitar, and many string instrument techniques, and are also used in synthesised music and orchestral writing to create sweeping textures.
The opposite is a 'block chord' or 'solid chord', where all the notes of the chord are sounded simultaneously.
It is almost exclusively a musical term. However, it can be used metaphorically in literary analysis, design, or strategy to describe ideas or elements presented in a sequential, non-simultaneous manner derived from a single concept.
A chord whose notes are played in succession (arpeggiated) rather than simultaneously.
Broken chord is usually technical (music), formal/descriptive in register.
Broken chord: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrəʊ.kən ˈkɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbroʊ.kən ˈkɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Figurative] The plan was executed in a broken chord, with each phase following the last after a short delay.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a chocolate bar (the chord) being broken into pieces (the notes) and eaten one piece at a time.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SIMULTANEOUS GROUP IS A BROKEN SEQUENCE (for effect, texture, or motion).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of a broken chord?