Arpeggio signs

Arpeggio signs are vertical lines that indicate chords are to be played arpeggiated, or spread, so that the notes in the chord are played very quickly one after another. Arpeggio signs are normally shown with wavy lines similar to trill extension lines.

Arpeggiated chords can be played in two directions:

  • Upwards, starting from the bottom note in the chord.

  • Downwards, starting from the top note in the chord.

Dorico offers the following types of arpeggio signs:

Up arpeggio

A vertical wavy line that indicates chords are to be arpeggiated from the bottom note upwards.

Down arpeggio

A vertical wavy line that indicates chords are to be arpeggiated from the top note downwards.

Non arpeggio

A bracket with straight lines that indicates all notes in the chord are to be played together, not arpeggiated.

Figure: Default up arpeggio

Figure: Default down arpeggio

Figure: Default non arpeggio

It is most common for up arpeggios to be shown with nothing at the top end, because chords are usually arpeggiated upwards, and for down arpeggios to be shown with an arrow at the bottom, so this is the default in Dorico. However, it is also accepted practice to show up arpeggios with an arrow at the top if down arpeggios are also used in the same piece of music.

You can show both up arpeggios and down arpeggios with one of three ends in Dorico:

  • Nothing

  • Arrow

  • Swash

Figure: Up arpeggio with nothing at the end

Figure: Up arpeggio with an arrow at the end

Figure: Up arpeggio with a swash at the end