Arpeggiation refers to playing or singing the notes of a chord individually rather than simultaneously, creating an ascending or descending pattern.
Related terms
Broken Chord: Another term for arpeggiation, where the notes of a chord are played or sung individually.
Alberti Bass: A specific type of arpeggiation commonly used in classical music, where the notes of a chord are played in a repeating pattern (low-high-middle-high).
Block Chord: The opposite of arpeggiation, where all the notes of a chord are played simultaneously.