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? asked in Entertainment & MusicMusicClassical · 7 years ago

Difference between broken chord and arpeggio?

On the internet I've found them to be the same thing, however on my LCM theory book, they are two completely different exercises. Can someone with a clear musical background give me a proper definition of both? Thanks (this is re piano)

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  • ?
    Lv 4
    7 years ago
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    As far as I'm aware they're pretty much the same; "broken chord" is just an English name for it, while the proper name is "arpeggio", like the difference between "whole-note" and "semi-breve".

    So the definition for both is the same - a chord, but with the notes played in sequence instead of all together. C-E-G, for example, or Bb-Db-F.

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