What is an arpeggio in musical terms?

An arpeggio refers to the playing of the notes in a chord successively rather than simultaneously. When an arpeggio is executed, you take a chord, which consists of multiple notes, and play each note one after the other in a specific order, typically from the lowest to the highest note. This technique creates a flowing sound, allowing for a richer texture in music as it adds a sense of movement and melody derived from the harmony of the chord.

In contrast, playing several notes at once constitutes playing a chord in harmony, which is not the definition of an arpeggio. The other options focus on different musical concepts—such as rhythm and dynamics—neither of which pertains to the sequential playing of chord tones that characterizes an arpeggio.