The texture of a single image or sound might be described as smooth, jagged, spotted, etc.

In the next image, however, we could talk about the texture of individual objects (e.g., speckled, wet, rough), but we could also talk about the texture of how these objects interact with each other in space. Do some take the foreground while others provide a background? Would you say the contrast between round spots and lines is significant? Is it “busier” or more dense in some parts of the image than others? Is it balanced (and if not, what is out of place, wanting to move)?

You might call this musical texture bumpy, jagged, or pointillistic.

Also consider how different sounds work together or against each other. Listen to the piano and strings in this excerpt. The piano is still just playing “points” of sound, but the piano and strings are in harmony, rhythmically speaking. That is, they support one another:

Listen to this next part (below). You might still describe the texture as pointillistic, but you might say the piano and the strings are are taking turns or fighting with each other.

Consider the density or the empty space in these photos. How would you describe them?

This musical excerpt starts with different sounds in unison (the same) rhythm, with “empty space” in between; it is followed by a passage with sustained sounds in the background (leaving no silence in between notes), supporting an erratic melody line.