Monophony

Monophony refers to a musical texture where only one note is played at a time, with no accompanying chords or harmonies. It can involve a single voice, instrument, or synthesizer performing a single melodic line. In sound synthesis, a monophonic synth can only play one note at a time — ideal for basslines, expressive leads, or sounds using portamento/glide. Monophony contrasts with polyphony, where multiple notes can be played simultaneously.