An arpeggio is a playing technique or pattern in which the notes of a chord are sounded one after another instead of all at once. On a C chord you play C, E, and G in order, keeping the chord’s sound while creating rhythm and movement.
The basic idea
Even on the same chord, the order, direction, rhythm, and register of the notes change the impression. Rising from low to high can feel expansive, while descending from high to low can feel settled.
Its role in writing and playing
Used in guitar, piano, or synth accompaniment, it adds finer rhythm than holding the chord. It also fills gaps around the vocal without getting in the melody’s way.
Trying it in your DAW
Spread the chord’s MIDI notes up and down and lay them out as eighth or sixteenth notes. Even when using an arpeggiator, change the chord, octave, and gate settings and listen to the results.
Difference from related terms
An arpeggio is a way of sounding the notes of a chord separately. Voicing refers to which register those notes are placed in.
When you want to change the character of an accompaniment without changing the chords, an arpeggio is a simple and effective option.
