![]() Songs that include a pre-chorus in the first verse almost always have one in every subsequent verse. ![]() This sub-section of the verse is most often comprised of four or eight musical bars. Sometimes called a lift, a climb, a channel, a set-up, or a “B” section, its function is to connect and propel listeners from the verse to the chorus-both melodically and lyrically. Pre-ChorusesĪ pre-chorus is a component of a song that occurs immediately before the chorus. Whether to include a bridge or not is a creative decision based on factors such as whether the writer wants to advance the story, if there is a new melodic element they want to introduce, and the length of the song. They can be instrumental (such as in Eric Church’s “Like a Wrecking Ball”), but that’s not typical. Bridges (often referred to as the “Middle 8” outside the U.S.) are typically four or eight musical bars. ![]() Ideally, in this section a new lyric angle, new perspective, and/or new information is introduced. The word most often invoked when describing the function of bridges is “departure,” and indeed, the most effective bridges depart both melodically and lyrically from the other sections of the song. The two choruses in Patsy Cline’s classic “I Fall to Pieces” (Harlan Howard/Hank Cochran) include different lyrics, and in Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville,” the final line of each chorus lyric is different from the others. Typically, every chorus within a given song will have the same melody and the same lyrics. Why? Because the chorus will likely be repeated two or three times, and if it is full of detail and story, it probably won’t make sense to repeat it. The chorus lyric does not typically bring in detail or advance the story. For example, Coldplay’s GRAMMY-winning Song of the Year, “Viva La Vida” never includes the title in the chorus-or anywhere else in the song. The rare exceptions to this are typically songs written by artists who write for themselves. In song forms that include a chorus, the title will almost always be in the chorus. Choruses tend to be eight, twelve, or sixteen musical bars. Choruses are intended to be the most memorable part of the song, both lyrically and melodically-the part people walk away singing. Hot Tip: To write a second verse, ask yourself, “What else happened? Or, “ Then what happened?” ChorusesĬhorus lyrics are usually a simple summation of the concept-a place to summarize the song’s essence in a catchy, easy-to-remember way. Each verse typically has different lyrics, and while there are no “rules” about how long a verse should be, the most common lengths are eight, twelve, or sixteen musical bars. Verse lyrics tell the story, include action and details, and lead the listeners to the chorus and the title. Before proceeding, I’ll briefly define the functions of each of the “building blocks.” Verses Popular music is constantly evolving, and this article explores whether the use of song structures has changed, and whether there are any trends to take note of. My listeners might not be able to define or identify a verse, a chorus, or a bridge, but they had spent a lifetime listening to music that was constructed using these components, so including them added a sense of familiarity. To the contrary, presenting my songs in formats with which my listeners were familiar, allowed my audience to receive the melodies and lyrics I shared. The structures I used to express my songs did not alter their message. But I learned that effective songwriting is an art of communication that a primary goal was to connect with-and evoke emotion in-my listeners. Initially, when I learned about song structures, I feared that confining my music to one of a handful of prescribed forms would limit-or even destroy-my creative expression. Nor did I know that the vast majority of the songs I listened to on the radio combined these components into one of four song forms, or a variation of one of these forms. When I took my first songwriting workshop I had no idea that verses, choruses, and bridges were the primary building blocks used in popular songs.
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