arpeggio.. hmm.

[mabufo]

Could someone explain to me what an arpeggio is, how to play one, and when to play it?

EDIT: When I mean when to play it - I mean how is it conventionally used in music.

[Appfro]

arpeggio is basically playing a chord, only one note at a time. it can be in any order. take a G chord

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3
0
0
2
3

if you play it all together like that, it's just a chord
if you play it arpeggio, it would be

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3
  3
    0
      0
        2
           3

or something random

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e                 3
b 
g    0        0     0
d  0        0
a         2
e       3                3

good enough explination?

[Thomas]

arpeggio is basically playing a chord, only one note at a time. it can be in any order. take a G chord

Code: Select all

3
0
0
2
3

if you play it all together like that, it's just a chord
if you play it arpeggio, it would be

Code: Select all

3
  3
    0
      0
        2
           3

or something random

Code: Select all

e                 3
b 
g    0        0     0
d  0        0
a         2
e       3                3

good enough explination?

so i've been decieved? I thought they had to be in order?

[dmbguitar718]

They can't be in any random order, an arpeggio is consecutive.

[skoal]

Yea it's just playing the notes of a chord consecutively instead of all at once. It doesn't necessarily need to done in a chord shape, either. During solos lots of guys will play arpeggios just by playing the root, third, and fifth in order, throwing in passing tones to spice things up a bit.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/ ... eggio.html

[i-am-me]

They can't be in any random order, an arpeggio is consecutive.

yeah that's what i thought the definition was.

[Appfro]

my bad. i was mistaken on the definition then.

[mabufo]

Well, regardless - thanks for clearing the whole thing up for me.

[StarSlight]

an arpeggio is just playing the notes of a chord consecutively, so the notes don't NEED to start with the root.

if you do start with the root, you're playing an arpeggio of a root-position chord.
start with the third, a first-inversion chord arpeggio.
start with the fifth, a second-inversion chord arpeggio.
start with the seventh, a third-inversion chord arpeggio.

[dmb66]

You Enjoy Myself

[zenful]

They can't be in any random order, an arpeggio is consecutive.

sure they can, arpeggiation is a type of linear device just like passing or neighbor notes. skips of 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, and 6ths, and 8va are commonly referred to as arpeggiation

[dmbguitar718]

They can't be in any random order, an arpeggio is consecutive.

sure they can, arpeggiation is a type of linear device just like passing or neighbor notes. skips of 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, and 6ths, and 8va are commonly referred to as arpeggiation

Sure, but you're not going like 4th -> 2nd -> 6th -> 3rd -> 5th etc.

At least that's what I believe. I may be wrong.

[guitardmb]

They can't be in any random order, an arpeggio is consecutive.

sure they can, arpeggiation is a type of linear device just like passing or neighbor notes. skips of 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, and 6ths, and 8va are commonly referred to as arpeggiation

Sure, but you're not going like 4th -> 2nd -> 6th -> 3rd -> 5th etc.

At least that's what I believe. I may be wrong.

I think you are right. There has to be some sort of pattern to it i think else they are just non-chord tones.

[sunglassesatnight]

The notes in a chord are non-chord tones? Smart statement.

[guitardmb]

The notes in a chord are non-chord tones? Smart statement.

Thats not what I mean. If there is no real order to it than it really isnt an arpeggio. I suppose non-chord tone isnt the best way to describe it, but its not an arpeggio.