Here are some ideas:

• Start with the guitar, add the bass, add the piano, add the drums, add the voice
• A sudden change in a section change - eg drums drop out at the verse, or piano enters at the chorus

Some ideas that can make your music sound thicker or thiner:

• Guitar – move from picking to strumming or just change the strum
• Bass – Long notes vs moving notes
• Drums – Try a slight change in a new section eg ride instead of hi-hat.
• Keys – Block chords vs broken chords

Monophonic means 'one' or single. (That could mean one instrument playing, or many playing the exact same)

Some ideas:

• Guitar, bass, keys and voice all play the same melody for a phrase
• Lead and backing vocals on the same note for a short time
• Lead and backing vocals are an octave apart
• One instrument plays alone for a short time (eg bass run into chorus)
• Word painting - some lyrics that would be benefit from monophonic texture: “We are all in this together” “Stop right now” “We are one”

This means - same timing - but different notes.

Here are some ideas:

• back-up singers are in harmony with the lead vocals.
• Some lyrics that would be benefit from homophonic texture: “We are family" “We are here for you”

Herbs perform E Papa, and make great use of changing suddenly from monophonic to homophonic throughout - E Papa

This means 2 or more melody lines. Polyphonic music is exciting, busy and powerful.

Here are some ideas for your composition:

• Polyphonic texture works really well at the high point of your song.. Build up to a point and then go into interweaving parts.
• Lead and backing vocals sing different parts
• Lead vocal and a guitar solo at the same time

UB40 use a polyphonic texture at the start of Sing Our Own Song - Listen to the first minute and then the last minute. They use a repeated riff throughout too. Lots of good techniques to use in this song! Sing Our Own Song