Have you got an outstanding idea for the song, but do not know where to take it next? Like any endeavor, the song needs a plan and direction. That road musical road map is known as song form.
Popular music is littered with interesting, weird, and wonderful ways that songs have been put together. Before you start putting your own pieces together, it helps to know the different sections. To assist, we have collected them below.
Introduction
The introduction (intro) is the first part of your song that occurs before the first verse. As it is the first section, it needs to grab the listener’s attention and draw them in. If you get it perfect, the introduction may even be the greatest part of the song.
Introductions can be done in several ways. They can build up, start with a solo, or in some cases may even be omitted altogether. However, always remember that you only get one chance to make a great impression.
Verse
The verse is the section that reoccurs in the song, but with lyrics that change each time. While it still needs to be catchy, it should not overshadow the hook in the chorus. The verse can contain the story or narrative of the lyrical theme, as opposed to the main theme that should be reinforced in the chorus.
In a standard pop song form, the verse alternates with the chorus section. They may be divided by the middle eight, or occasionally broken up by other sections.
Chorus
This is the main section of your song. It should contain the hook, the part that keeps people singing the song all day long. Ideally, it will provide a contrast to the verse section and anything that comes after it.
The chorus needs to repeat at various points. If not, people will forget it existed and will not make the connection to your piece.
Solo
The solo is the part you really get to show off. It is where all the guitar, piano, drums, and singing lessons pay off. In this section, one musician gets to show what they can do, and it is usually a pre-climax that comes before a chorus. Very often, a song can find itself more famous for the solo than the rest of the song.
Middle Eight/Bridge
The middle eight is named so as it is usually made of 8 bars, though it can be shorter or longer. It can be found in two places within a song, either in the ‘bridge’ between a verse and chorus or used as a breakdown section later in the song. Sometimes, it may be used to add solos over the top.
Outro
The outro is the farewell to your piece of music and decides how you end. Many people neglect the outro, particularly in recorded music, with a fade-out. This is a studio technique in which the music gradually gets quieter towards the end. However, it can never replace the musical full stop and satisfaction that comes with a well-thought-out outro.
