Texture in music refers to how the tempo, melodic, and harmonic materials are combined in a musical composition, determining the overall quality of the sound in a piece. Texture is often described in regard to the density, or thickness, and range, or width, between lowest and highest pitches, in relative terms as well as more specifically distinguished according to the number of voices, or parts, and the relationship between these voices. There are four main types of musical texture:
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Monophonic: This is the simplest texture, consisting of a single melodic line without any accompaniment.
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Homophonic: This texture features a single melodic line with accompaniment, where all voices move together rhythmically.
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Polyphonic: This texture consists of two or more simultaneous melodic lines, each with its own rhythm and contour.
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Heterophonic: This texture is similar to polyphonic texture, but with the added element of variation between the different melodic lines.
The thickness of a pieces texture may be changed by the number and character of parts playing at once, the timbre of the instruments or voices playing these parts, and the harmony, tempo, and rhythms used. Texture in music can be described using several terms, but the simplest ones are in describing the density of the music.
