arpeggio

noun ar·peg·gio \ är-ˈpe-jē-ˌō , -ˈpe-jō \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of arpeggio

plural arpeggios

1 : production of the tones of a chord in succession and not simultaneously

2 : a chord played in arpeggio

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Examples of arpeggio in a Sentence

The guitarist warmed up with a few simple arpeggios.

Recent Examples of arpeggio from the Web

The waves rolling into the shore make cascades of sound, sometimes regular rhythms and sometimes duples and triples and offbeat syncopations—all set against the arpeggios and glissandos of the birds.

— alan hirshfeld, WSJ, "‘Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine’ Review: A Longing for Truth and Meaning," 6 Apr. 2018
Now the frenzied chords and blizzard of arpeggios in Chopin’s Prolinase are a piece of cake to play.

— r. douglas fields, Scientific American, "Wristband Lets the Brain Control a Computer with a Thought and a Twitch," 27 Mar. 2018
Waves of arpeggios that crash resoundingly from the opening chord, a near-flood of instant feelings.

— andrew unterberger, Billboard, "10 Reasons Why The Cranberries' 'Dreams' Is One of the Greatest Songs of All Time," 15 Jan. 2018
During the first sighing unison phrase of the prelude, the strings played with hushed yet penetrating tone, rising with a touch of hesitation and slowly swelling in sound and radiance, until the upper strings crested into delicate, lacy arpeggios.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: A Conductor Delivers a Magnificent ‘Parsifal’ at the Met," 6 Feb. 2018
In the third piece, over a softly churning piano line — Lucas Debargue was her subtle partner — Ms. Jansen played flowing arpeggios on glassy harmonics, giving the effect of a sprite dancing on the lip of a simmering volcano.

— zachary woolfe, New York Times, "Review: The Radiant Modesty of Janine Jansen at Carnegie Hall," 8 Dec. 2017
There’s a hint of Latin music in the way Nick Zinner’s guitar hops around in syncopated arpeggios, while Brian Chase’s drums sketch a laconic backbeat.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: Hear Beyoncé Join ‘Mi Gente,’ Plus 9 More New Songs," 29 Sep. 2017
With soft strumming bass rhythms and waves of an acoustic arpeggio, Okereke’s calming voice on this track has never sounded so crystal clear.

— paris close, Billboard, "30 Gay Love Songs: Frank Ocean, Troye Sivan, Kele Okereke & More," 24 Oct. 2017
On tenor saxophone, Jason Rigby dials up his solo even higher than on the record, fashioning arpeggios that bristle and heave, skimming energy from the chunky provocations of Fabian Almazan’s piano.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: Hear Beyoncé Join ‘Mi Gente,’ Plus 9 More New Songs," 29 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'arpeggio.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.