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MT106 – Basic Music Theory 6 – Texture

LESSON OUTCOMES

  1. What is Texture?
  2. Factors that affect texture
  3. Describing Texture
  4. Types of Texture
https://youtu.be/8n6YQdJB6Qk
Access Assignment for this lesson here

Texture

The overall sound quality created by the combination of the different elements in a music piece.

How the music or sound is organized; how many layers a piece of music has; how many voices or instruments are playing at once.

Factors that affect Texture

  • Tempo
  • Melody
  • Harmony
  • Rhythm
  • Timbre

Describing Texture

Just like a piece of clothing material, soil or skin, the texture of music can be described in various ways.

  • Thick: a lot of melodies and harmonies played or sung at the same time.
  • Thin: only one or two melodies or harmonies at the same time
  • Open / Wide / Spacious: a large gap between highest and lowest notes.
  • Closed / Tight / Compact: notes played or sung are all close to each other

Types of Texture

Monophonic Texture

Mono- one: Only one melody sung or played by one person.

This is the simplest form or texture.

E.g. Happy birthday song

Homophonic Texture

Homo- same / similar: multiple notes played or sung around the same melody.

Most commonly used in Gospel

Polyphonic Texture

Poly- many / multiple: multiple notes played or sung independently.

Two or more vocal parts doing their own thing.

Two other textures will be dealt in higher classes:

  • Imitative
  • Antiphonal (used in rap and funk)