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Music TheoryArpeggios: The "Broken" Chords
Arpeggios: The "Broken" Chords
Goal
Learn how to play chords as flowing sequences of notes.
What is an Arpeggio?
An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time, usually spanning multiple octaves. It creates a "Harp-like" sound.
C Major Arpeggio
Notes: C - E - G - (High) C.
Right Hand Fingering: **1 - 2 - 3 - 5**.
Left Hand Fingering: **5 - 4 - 2 - 1**.
Try playing it up and down smoothly without stopping.
The 3 Main Types
- •Major Arpeggio: (1-3-5) Bright and triumphant.
- •Minor Arpeggio: (1-b3-5) Dark and dramatic.
- •Dominant 7th: (1-3-5-b7) Bluesy and sophisticated.
Quick Recap
Arpeggios are the secret to fast, "shredding" piano runs.
They use the same notes as chords but require thumb tucks for multi-octave runs.
Apply Your Knowledge
Practice what you just learned with these songs