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Ornaments

Arpeggio

Roll a chord so its notes sound in sequence rather than all at once.

See it in the score

Arpeggiated harmony in Bach's C-minor Prelude

The wavy line rolls a chord that also carries an ornament at its upper note.

Open measure 34 in the piece
Arpeggiated harmony in Bach's C-minor Prelude From Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847 by J.S. Bach, source measure 34.

Passage playback follows the literal encoded notes, rhythm, tempo, and written directions in this excerpt. It is a study aid, not a model of a pianist's touch, phrasing, ornament realization, or pedal technique.

In a sentence

Roll a chord so its notes sound in sequence rather than all at once.

The vertical wavy line asks for the chord's pitches to be spread, normally from low to high unless an arrow or convention indicates otherwise. The notes still belong to one harmonic event.

The width and speed of a roll depend on register, tempo, and style. Coordinate both hands when the wavy line spans a large grand-staff chord.