How to Play Piano Arpeggios

The arpeggio is an important musical element for piano players. Arpeggios are derived from major and minor chords and can easily be adapted to create variations on a theme for improvisation and for composition. Learning how to play arpeggios improves any player's performance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Break up the notes in a C Major Triad. Normally the three notes are played in unison, but an arpeggio is performed by playing the individual notes separately.

2. Continue playing the three notes until reaching a C. Playing an octave with arpeggios this way gives pianists more freedom and latitude in their playing. A pianist could continue playing arpeggios by octaves for two, three or more octaves.

3. Return to the original root note by playing arpeggios in reverse back down the octave scale. This method of playing the arpeggios in both ascending and descending order can create a more vigorous presentation.

4. Play the chord inversions as arpeggios by playing the C chord up to the next C; and start on the second note of the original arpeggio. This variation of the arpeggio can be used with each note in the original root chord.