An arpeggiator is a device or software that takes the notes of a chord played on a keyboard and plays them in sequence, one at a time, instead of all together.

Instead of you having to play the notes of a chord (an arpeggio) individually with your fingers, the arpeggiator does it automatically.

You simply hold down a chord and the arpeggiator creates a rhythmic pattern with those notes.

For example, if you hold down the notes C-E-G (C major chord), the arpeggiator can play the sequence "C, E, G, C, E, G..." at a constant rhythm.

Most arpeggiators offer controls to customize the pattern, such as:

• Direction: The sequence can go up, down, up and down, or be random.

• Rhythm: Defines the speed of the notes (e.g., quarter note, eighth note, sixteenth note).

• Range of Octaves: The sequence can be repeated one or more octaves above or below, creating a much broader and more complex effect from a simple chord.