Which element of music indicates how notes are arranged and interact?

Texture is the element of music that describes how different musical lines or voices interact and combine with one another. It refers to the richness of sound in a piece and how various melodic and harmonic elements are woven together. For instance, a piece with a thick texture may have many overlapping musical lines, such as multiple instruments playing at the same time, while a thinner texture might feature a solo instrument or a single vocal line.

When discussing music, texture can involve elements such as the number of parts or voices, as well as their relationship to each other—whether they are homophonic (one main melody supported by chords), polyphonic (multiple independent melodies), or monophonic (a single melody without accompaniment). Thus, understanding texture is crucial for analyzing how notes are arranged and how they function together within a composition, making it key to grasping the overall sound and structure of the music.