Texture
The way melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic materials are woven together in a composition.
Category
fundamental
Pronunciation
TEKS-chur
Origin
Latin (textura, weaving)
Length
138 words · 1 min read
About Texture
Texture describes how many voices or parts are present and how they relate to each other. The main texture types are: monophonic (single unaccompanied melody), homophonic (melody with chordal accompaniment), polyphonic/contrapuntal (multiple independent melodies), and heterophonic (simultaneous variations of the same melody).
More fundamental terms
Timbre
View all fundamentalterms →The characteristic quality of a sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another.
Sight-ReadingThe ability to perform a piece of music at first sight without prior practice or rehearsal
RhythmThe pattern of sounds and silences in time.
MelodyA sequence of single pitches perceived as a coherent musical line.
PitchThe perceived highness or lowness of a sound, determined by its frequency.
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →