A performer improvises using arpeggiation on a folk song. What technique is being used?

The chosen answer highlights arpeggiation, which is a technique where the notes of a chord are played in succession rather than simultaneously. In the context of improvisation on a folk song, using arpeggiation showcases the performer's ability to create melodic lines that flow smoothly while maintaining the harmonic structure of the song. This technique can enrich the performance by adding texture and depth, allowing the performer to explore variations in melody based on the underlying chords without straying from the folk song's essence.

In this situation, the focus is specifically on the method of arpeggiation itself rather than simply altering rhythm or modifying melodic lines through variation. While melodic variation and rhythmic alteration involve creative adjustments to elements of music, here, the emphasis is placed on the manner in which notes are articulated from chords, which is quintessentially arpeggiation. The mention of chords acknowledges the foundational element of harmony but does not capture the specific action of playing them in an arpeggiated style, which is central to the performance being described.