Arpeggio

From the Italian word arpeggiare (“to play on a harp”). This is when you play the notes of a chord one after another, rather than all at once.

  • The Savvy Take: Don’t just hammer the notes separately. Aim for a fluid, “water-like” sound. Your thumb is usually the clunky culprit here—practice passing your thumb under your hand smoothly to avoid accents.