monophonic

Monophonic describes a musical texture consisting of a single melodic line. The term derives from Greek monos, meaning single, and phone, meaning sound. A performance is monophonic if there is one melody sounding, even when multiple voices sing it in unison or at octaves.

By contrast, polyphonic music blends two or more independent melodies, as in two-part counterpoint, while homophony centers on a primary melody with accompanying harmony or chords. In practice, a performance may be heard as monophonic even with several singers if they are synchronized on one melody.

In instrumentation and technology, monophonic can describe a single voice or tone generator. A monophonic synthesizer can play only one note at a time; polyphonic synthesizers can produce several notes simultaneously. Some keyboards, organs, and traditional vocal practices use monophony in practice, especially for solo melodies or drone-and-melody textures.

In modern audio, monophonic or mono describes a single-channel recording or playback, contrasted with stereo or multichannel formats. The term is used in musicology, instrument design, and audio engineering to indicate the absence of multiple independent melodic lines and accompanying harmonies.