Which accompaniment technique involves playing the notes of a chord in sequence rather than all at once?

Which accompaniment technique involves playing the notes of a chord in sequence rather than all at once?

• A. Arpeggiation
• B. Ostinato
• C. Ground bass
• D. Blocked chords

Answer: (A)

Arpeggiation means playing the notes of a chord one after another, rather than all at once, creating a rolling, broken-chord effect. In accompaniment, this outlines the harmony piece by piece and adds motion and texture, whether you’re rolling the chord on a piano, picking the strings on a guitar, or shaping a figure on another instrument. You can move the notes upward or downward, and sometimes the first note is held while the others pass, giving a sense of continuity. This approach contrasts with blocked chords, where all chord tones are struck together. An ostinato focuses on a repeating rhythmic pattern, and a ground bass provides a recurring bass line—neither of which describes playing chord tones in sequence.

Arpeggiation means playing the notes of a chord one after another, rather than all at once, creating a rolling, broken-chord effect. In accompaniment, this outlines the harmony piece by piece and adds motion and texture, whether you’re rolling the chord on a piano, picking the strings on a guitar, or shaping a figure on another instrument. You can move the notes upward or downward, and sometimes the first note is held while the others pass, giving a sense of continuity. This approach contrasts with blocked chords, where all chord tones are struck together. An ostinato focuses on a repeating rhythmic pattern, and a ground bass provides a recurring bass line—neither of which describes playing chord tones in sequence.