How to make an arpeggio in the piano roll

By Tongkit Leong · October 17, 2026 · 6 min read

An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time instead of all at once. In the Tracks browser studio you make one by drawing the chord's notes in the piano roll on a fine grid, one after another, then looping the bar.

What is an arpeggio?

Play C, E and G together and you have a C major chord. Play them in sequence, C then E then G, and you have an arpeggio. Same notes, same harmony, but now the chord has movement.

Arpeggios are everywhere: the shimmering synth in pop and trance, the rolling left hand in piano ballads, the plucky lines in chiptune and synthwave. They fill space and add rhythm without needing a new melody.

Before you start

Open the studio, add a software instrument track (the built-in synthesizer is a good fit), and open its clip in the piano roll. Set your grid to 1/8 or 1/16 notes. Turn on snap so notes land exactly on the beat. Nothing here needs a download or an account, and your project stays in your browser.

Step 1: Start with a chord

Draw a simple triad one bar long: C, E and G. Play it back. This is your harmony, and it is what the arpeggio will outline. If you want help picking chords, see chord progressions in the piano roll.

Step 2: Break it into single notes

Delete the stacked chord and redraw each note on its own grid step. With a 1/16 grid, a bar has 16 steps. Place C on step 1, E on step 2, G on step 3, then repeat the idea across the bar. Make each note one grid step long so they do not overlap.

Add the octave above (a higher C) as a fourth note. Four-note patterns feel fuller and loop more naturally in 4/4.

Step 3: Choose a pattern

The order of the notes is what gives an arpeggio its character:

• Up: C, E, G, C. Bright and rising, good for build-ups.
• Down: C, G, E, C. Calmer and more reflective.
• Up and down: C, E, G, E. Smooth and continuous, the classic choice.
• Skipping: C, G, E, G. Less predictable and more modern.

Try each one in a loop. Small changes in order change the mood a lot.

Step 4: Set the rhythm

Straight 1/16 notes sound busy and driving. 1/8 notes sound relaxed. You can also leave gaps: skip a step or two to make the pattern syncopated. A pattern that plays on every step is steady; one with rests feels like a groove.

If it sounds stiff, use quantize and swing to loosen it. See quantize and swing explained.

Step 5: Shape velocity

Flat velocity makes an arpeggio sound mechanical. Raise the velocity of the first note in each group and lower the others slightly. Open the velocity lane under the piano roll and drag the bars. Even a 10 to 20 point difference adds a pulse you can feel.

Step 6: Pick a sound

Short, plucky sounds keep each note distinct. In the synth, use a saw or square wave, a short amp envelope with a quick release, and a low-pass filter you can open a little. Add a touch of delay from a send so the notes echo into each other. Long, slow-release pads blur the pattern, so save those for the chords underneath.

Step 7: Follow the chord changes

For a full progression, copy the bar and move the notes to match each chord. For example, F major is F, A, C and G major is G, B, D. Keep the same shape and rhythm so the pattern stays recognizable while the harmony changes.

Common mistakes

• Notes overlapping: leave each note exactly one step long, or the sound smears.
• Too many notes at once: an arpeggio plus a busy melody fights for space. Keep one of them simple.
• No variation: change the pattern every four or eight bars, or drop notes out, to avoid fatigue.
• Wrong octave: an arpeggio that sits too low turns muddy. Move it up an octave or two.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a chord and an arpeggio?

A chord plays its notes at the same time. An arpeggio plays the same notes one after another.

Does Tracks have an arpeggiator?

You build arpeggios by hand in the piano roll. That gives you full control over order, rhythm and velocity, and the result is ordinary MIDI you can edit or export.

What grid should I use?

1/16 for fast, driving patterns and 1/8 for slower, relaxed ones.

Can I use a MIDI keyboard?

Yes. You can record the pattern by playing it, then tidy it up in the piano roll. See how to use a MIDI keyboard in a browser DAW.