Texture
The way different musical lines or voices are combined in a piece
Monophonic
Music with a single melody line with no accompaniment
Homophonic
Music with one main melody accompanied by chords moving together
Polyphonic
Music with two or more independent melodic lines happening at the same time
2 part texture
Music with two independent parts
3 part texture
Music with three independent parts
4 part texture
Music with four independent parts
Unison
Two or more performers playing or singing the same notes at the same time
Chordal
Music built from chords often moving together
Imitation
When one part copies another melodic idea
Layered
Music built from multiple parts added on top of each other
Melody and accompaniment
One main melody with supporting parts underneath
Countermelody
A secondary melody played alongside the main melody
Descant
A high melody sung or played above the main melody
Round
Two or more parts singing or playing the same melody starting at different times
Canon
A piece where a melody is imitated exactly in another part after a short delay
Drone
A sustained or repeated note throughout a piece
Alberti bass
A broken chord pattern in the accompaniment usually low-high-middle-high
Stab chords
Short strong chords played for emphasis
Walking bass
A bass line moving mainly in step often in jazz or blues
