What is the purpose of arpeggios?

[guitarjazz]

Originally Posted by Jazzguitarsussx

Hi, I'd use arpeggios mixed with scales but use chromatic approach notes to 'enclose' each note of the arpeggio. For example one note below or one note above or target a note with both one below and above. Or even something like two notes above and one below- ensuring the 'target, enclosed' note is on a down beat.
You try many ways of targeting each chord tone then take an arpeggio and approach each chord tone a different way. By surrounding each arpeggio note this way it sounds less like just running up or down a straight arpeggio but your using outside notes to target these important notes... (if that makes sense!)

The best thing I've seen on this approach (no pun) is by Kurt Rosenwinkel's former teacher Jimmy Amandie:http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Improv-Ho.../dp/0961303514

or you could 'take off' about any Sonny Rollins solo!

[DoorMouseForker]

I ask this uncomfortable question to emphasize we shouldn't take anyones word as the official gospel.

An arpeggio we are told, is playing the notes of a chord. Thus, an arpeggio can be on a major chord or a minor chord - which is made up of 3 notes including the root.

Some chords have 4 notes, some chords have 5 notes, I have found on the internet where some teachers recognize 6-note chords and 7 note chords.

Certainly on a piano or a harp, it is easier to have a lot of notes in a single chord.

So, can an arpeggio be just a diad, can an arpeggio be 5 notes, can an arpeggio be 7 notes if it is defined as a 7-note chord?

[dogbite]

Originally Posted by DoorMouseForker

I ask this uncomfortable question to emphasize we shouldn't take anyones word as the official gospel.

An arpeggio we are told, is playing the notes of a chord. Thus, an arpeggio can be on a major chord or a minor chord - which is made up of 3 notes including the root.

Some chords have 4 notes, some chords have 5 notes, I have found on the internet where some teachers recognize 6-note chords and 7 note chords.

Certainly on a piano or a harp, it is easier to have a lot of notes in a single chord.

So, can an arpeggio be just a diad, can an arpeggio be 5 notes, can an arpeggio be 7 notes if it is defined as a 7-note chord?

mouse,

i think this is a very good question. classical theory defines a "chord" as having at least three notes, so this would rule out dyads. seventh, ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords are certainly considered "proper" in many contexts; therefore, if an "arpeggio" satisfies the criteria of a "broken chord..."

so it seems to me that it comes down to the answer to the following question:

"what is a chord, anyway?"

dunno if that's helpful but there's my 2¢ on the issue

[engelbach]

I've never heard of arpeggio being defined as "playing the notes of a chord in any order."

I learned that an arpeggio is the playing of the notes of a chord in sequence in ascending and/or descending order.

If the notes are out of sequence I'd call it a "broken chord."