Homophonic Style

Kaii Lee had combined several piano/keyboard method books and her life long music learning books to create this sequential music theory study for this website. This page will cover the Homophonic Style of music compositions. There are other composition styles as well, such as, Monophonic and Polyphonic. By clicking on the other colored links at the bottom of this page, the other music theory topics can be found easily.

For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net

Homophonic Style | Monophonic Style

Homophonic style music has a Main Melody that is accompanied by other instruments playing different rhythms and notes that support that main melody. For example, Chopin has written plenty of beautiful melodies and almost all of those beautiful melodies were accompanied by some chord progression. Here is an example of Homophonic Style by Chopin, his Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No.4. Chopin used very few notes to create the main melody here while the accompaniment had a chromatic descending line at the same time.

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Here is another example of Homophonic Style music by Mozart, his Piano Sonata in C Major, K.545, First Movement. The main melody is accompanied by Alberti Bass in the left hand.

During the turn of the century, 19th to 20th century, the Ragtime music was highly involved with Homophonic Style of Writing. Here is an Example of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" with the main melody in the right hand and octave chordal accompaniment in the left hand.

Almost all popular and folk songs are using the Homophonic Style writing. The reason behind that is for everyone could easily learn the main melody of a new song and sing the new melody, regardless the chord progression. Here is an example of American folk song, "Simple Gifts."

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In the meantime, the Monophonic Style of music means just one single, unaccompanied melody. Therefore, a song performed without any accompaniment by one person is called Monophonic, or a Solo. When a group of people perform the same melody, whether instrumental or vocal, as long as the same melody is used at the same time, it is still considered as Homophonic Style Music. Some people call that "Unison", for only one sound was produced at any given moment and there is no independent parts.

The earliest Monophonic Style of Music in the Western Classical Music tradition was found in the Gregorian Chants. The early Gregorian Chants from the 9th century featured a single chant melody only. Here is an example of the Gregorian Chant.

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The next topic in this Music Theory site is all about "Polyphonic Style." Thank you for reading!

Music Theory that every musician could use and should know

The Basics

Math in Music

More Math and Signs

Music Forms

Time Signatures Intervals Modulations Homophonic Style

Polyphonic Style

Diatonic & Chromatic Steps Transposition Contrapuntal Techniques

Key Signatures Triads & Inversions Binary Form

Primary Triads Augmented Sixth Chords Ternary Form

Secondary Triads Traditional Compositional Tools Dance Suites

Scales Seventh Chords Contemporary Compositional Tools Prelude & Fugue

Secondary Dominant Musical Signs Sonata Form

Cadences Rondo Form

Modes Chord Progressions Musical Terms Theme & Variations

Figured Bass & Basso Continuo Serialism

For more information, please contact Kaii directly: kaii@kafm.net

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