A
form of arpeggio has been used in older
game consoles and
computers, as a
replacement for
chords in
music. It gives
video game music its
peculiar
'
chirping' or '
bubbling'
sounds.
For example, the first trackers could only play four notes at a
time (i.e. they had a polyphony of four). Hence a typical chord of
three simultaneous notes would leave only one channel available
for other instruments. The solution was to play the required notes
in a rapid succession in just one channel. If the notes are
alternated quickly enough, they will appear to blend together slightly,
giving a vaguely chord-like effect (e.g. major or minor in a
certain key). The sound is quite different from a proper chord,
but it can sound nice and interesting if it's not overused. Even some modern
bands like Machinae Supremacy (http://machinaesupremacy.com/) use
arpeggiated sounds to create a retro electronic feeling.