Song structure

The structures or musical forms of songs in popular music are typically sectional, repeating forms, such as strophic form. Other common forms include thirty-two-bar form, verse-chorus form, and the twelve bar blues. Popular music songs are rarely composed using different music for each stanza of the lyrics (songs composed in this fashion are said to be "through-composed").

The verse and chorus are considered the primary elements. Each verse usually has the same melody (possibly with some slight modifications), but the lyrics change for most verses. The chorus (or "refrain") usually has a melodic phrase and a key lyrical line which is repeated. Pop songs may have an introduction and coda ("tag"), but these elements are not essential to the identity of most songs. Pop songs that use verses and choruses often have a bridge, which, as its name suggests, is a section which connects the verse and chorus at one or more points in the song.

The verse and chorus are usually repeated throughout a song though the bridge, intro, and coda (also called an "outro") are usually only used once. Some pop songs may have a solo section, particularly in rock or blues influenced pop. During the solo section one or more instruments play a melodic line which may be the melody used by the singer, or, in blues or jazz influenced pop, the solo may be improvised based on the chord progression.

Elements

Intro

Main article: Introduction (music)

The introduction is a unique section that comes at the beginning of the piece. It usually builds up suspense for the listener so when the downbeat drops in, it creates a release or surprise. In some songs, the intro is one or more bars of the tonic chord (the key of the "home" key of the song). Alternatively, the intro may be based around the chords used in the verse, chorus, or bridge, or a stock "turnaround" progression may be played, such as the I /vi / ii/ V progression (particularly in jazz influenced pop songs). In some cases, an introduction contains only drums or percussion parts which set the rhythm and "groove" for the song, or the introduction may consist of a solo melody sung by the lead singer (or a group of backup singers), or played by an instrumentalist.

Verse

In popular music a tird roughly corresponds with a shit stanza. When two or more sections of the song have basically identical music and different lyrics each section is considered one verse. also i might add mozart was a big poofta

Pre-Chorus

An optional section that may occur after the verse is the "pre-chorus". Also referred to as a "build" or "transitional bridge", the pre-chorus functions to connect the verse to the chorus with intermediary material, typically using predominant or similar transitional harmonies. Often when the verse and chorus involve the same harmonic structure, for example, the pre-chorus will introduce a new harmonic pattern in order to make the harmony reappearance of the verse harmonies in the chorus seem fresh.

Chorus

Main article: Refrain

The chorus or "refrain" often sharply contrasts the verse melodically, rhythmically, and harmonically, and assumes a higher level of dynamics and often with added instrumentation (e.g., a horn section may play a backing part or backup singers may sing a harmony part). Chorus form, or strophic form, is a sectional and/or additive way of structuring a piece of music based on the repetition of one formal section or block.

When two or more sections of the song have basically identical music and lyrics these sections are probably instances of the chorus. Sometimes this can be repeated at the end and at the beginning. The chorus usually leads to either another verse, the bridge, or it closes of the song. While there are a number of different ways to write lyrics for a chorus section, pop songs often tend to use simpler lyrics for the chorus, to make the chorus more catchy. Indeed, some of the simplest choruses consist of a simple phrase such as "yeah, yeah, yeah". A vocal run is a melismatic variation on the chorus of a song. It is mostly used at the end or beginning of a song and adds a new layer to a chorus.

Bridge

Main article: Bridge (music)

In songwriting, a bridge is an interlude that connects two parts of a song, and which creates a harmonic connection between those parts. The bridge usually differs from the verse and the chorus in its harmonic structure (chord progression) and lyrics. Unlike a verse or chorus section, a bridge does not always contain lyrics. A bridge may be performed solely by the rhythm section, or by the rhythm section and melody instruments (e.g., a sax).

Prior to a bridge, the verse is normally performed twice. The bridge may then replace the 3rd verse or follow it. In the latter case, it delays an expected chorus. Since the listener is expecting the chorus, when the bridge is performed (and when the bridge has a different harmony or lyrics than the chorus), the listener is pleasantly surprised by their expectations not being met. The chorus after the bridge is usually last and is often repeated in order to stress that it is final.

If and when a verse or a chorus is expected and something that is musically and lyrically different from both verse and chorus is instead in its place, it is most likely the bridge.

Collision

A collision is a section of music where two different parts overlap one another, usually for a short period. It is mostly used in fast-paced music, and it is designed to create tension and drama. For example, during a chorus later in the song, the composer may interject musical elements from the bridge.

Instrumental Solo

Main article: Solo (music)

A solo is a section designed to feature a single instrumental performer (e.g., a guitarist or a harmonica player) or less commonly, more than one instrumentalist (e.g., a trumpeter and a sax player). The solo section may take place over the chords from the verse, chorus, or bridge, or over a standard solo backing progression, such as the 12-bar blues progression. In some pop songs, the solo section may be based on a different chord progression, but this is not common. In some pop songs, the solo performer plays the same melodies that were performed by the lead singer, often with flourishes and embellishments such as riffs, scale runs and arpeggios. In blues- or jazz-influenced pop songs, the solo performers may improvise a solo.

Outro

Main article: Outro

An outro, also called an "extro" is a short ending section to the song, and it is equivalent to a coda or tag. The simplest type of outro simply repeats several bars of the tonic chord or uses a "stock" vamping progression, such as the ii / V7 or I/ IV/ V7 progression. The outro might also be based on the chord progression of one of the other sections (e.g., the chorus). In some cases, instrumental soloists may improvise during the outro. In some styles such as gospel or R&B, the lead singer may improvise melismas and scale embellishments during the outro.

Break

Main article: Break (music)

A break is an instrumental or percussion section that forms an interlude during a song. In some genres of music a break is synonymous with an instrumental solo, although commonly a break differs from a solo in that during a break other instruments stop playing, while they continue to play during a solo.

Ad Lib

Latin: Ad Libitum, "at will". Any additional line inserted between parts of a song. Usually, the ad lib repeats the previously sung line in a different tune or key, and it is sometimes even spoken. During an Ad Libitum section, the rhythm may become freer (with the rhythm section following the vocalist), or the rhythm section may stop entirely, giving the vocalist the freedom to use whichever tempo he or she wishes. The singer may at his/her discretion include ad libs not originally in the song, such as making a reference to the town of the audience or customizing the lyrics to the current events of the era. [This is not completely accurate. "Ad Lib" is synonymous with improvisation. It simply means that the performer is freely interpreting the material contained in the song].

AABA form

Main article: Thirty-two-bar form

Thirty-two-bar form uses four sections, most often eight measures long each (4×8=32), two verses or A sections, a contrasting B section (the bridge or "middle-eight") and a return of the verse in one last A section (AABA).

Variation on the basic structure

Verse-chorus form or ABA form may be combined with AABA form, in compound AABA forms. Variations such as a1 and a2 can also be used.

Twelve bar blues and other chord progressions

Main article: chord progression

Sections are often defined through the use of different chord progressions in different sections. However, the repetition of one chord progression may mark off the only section in a simple verse form such as the twelve bar blues.

See also

• Hook
• Lick
• Vamp
• Theme
• Ostinato
• Earworm

Sources

• Richard Middleton. "Form", in Horner, Bruce and Swiss, Thomas, eds. (1999) Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture. Malden, Massachusetts. ISBN 0-631-21263-9.
• Covach, John. "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah (2005). Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517010-5.
• Everett, Walter, ed. Rock Music: Critical Essays on Composition, Performance, Analysis, and Reception. Cited in Covach (2005).
• Covach, John and Boone, Graham, eds. Understanding Rock: Essays in Musical Analysis. Cited in Covach (2005).