Song Structure: Verse, Chorus, Bridge, and More

Structural Sections

• Structure refers to the order of different sections in a piece of music.
• An intro is the 'introduction' section at the start of a song.
• A verse usually follows the intro and often tells a story.
• A chorus is the catchy, repeated section of a song that reinforces the meaning.
• The melody consists of a series of pitches and note durations that combine to make the main tune.
• A pre-chorus is a section between a verse and chorus that builds tension.
• A riser is a short musical sound effect used as transition into a different section.
• A bridge is a contrasting section which might change the mood.
• An outro is the ending of a song, although not all songs have one.
• A refrain features lyrics that repeat between verses, like a shorter chorus, and is more similar to the verse musically
• A drop is a sudden change of rhythm or bass line that releases tension.
• A hook is a short melodic or rhythmic phrase that is memorable and catchy.
• A breakdown is a type of bridge section near the end, often changing texture.
• A middle 8 is an 8-bar section in the middle of a song to break it up with new material.
• A coda is an extended ending that brings the music to a close.

Form

• Form refers to specific structures in musical compositions.
• 12-bar form follows a 12-bar chord sequence.
• 12-bar form was first used in Blues and then Rock & Roll.
• 12-bar form uses chords I, IV and V in a specific order
• The chord I is always the naming note of the key for 12-bar form.
• Through-composed form creates new music for each section of a piece.
• Strophic form repeats the same music for every section of a piece (AAA).
• Binary form features two contrasting sections (A B).
• Ternary form contains three sections, with the first and last being the same (ABA).
• Arch form has three different sections arranged in the sequence ABCBA.
• Rondo form has a main theme with new sections in between (ABACA).

Rhythm, Time Signatures & Tempo

• Semibreve equals a whole note, has 4 beats in 4/4 time.
• Minim equals a half note, has 2 beats in 4/4 time.
• Crotchet equals a quarter note, has 1 beat in 4/4 time.
• Quaver equals an eighth note, has 1/2 a beat in 4/4 time.
• Time signature indicates how many beats are in each bar.
• The top number shows the number of beats per bar.
• The bottom number specifies the type of beat
• A compound time signature groups quavers in threes when the bottom number is 8.
• Three quavers are equal to one dotted crotchet.
• Dotted notes equal the note's duration plus half of its value.
• Syncopation involves off-beat rhythms.
• Syncopation emphasises notes on beats that would not usually be emphasised.
• In 4/4 time, beats 1 and 3 are usually emphasised.
• Triplets mean playing three notes in the time of two.
• Tempo is the speed of the music.
• Tempo is measured in beats per minute (BPM).
• Tempo may be described using words like allegro, andante, presto.

Melody, Key Signatures & Scales

• The treble clef is the curly symbol at the start of the stave.
• Notes are displayed on the lines or in the spaces between them.
• The notes on the lines can be remembered using: Every Green Bus Drives Fast (EGBDF).
• The notes in the spaces spell out the word FACE.
• A scale is a set of notes with specific intervals in pitch.
• An interval is the distance between two notes.
• Intervals are measured in tones and semitones.
• One tone is equal to two semitones.
• Every scale has a key signature.
• This signature indicates which sharps and flats are used in the scale.
• Major scales contain the following intervals: Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone (T,T,S,T,T,T,S).
• The C major scale contains the notes: C D E F G A B C.
• There are no sharps or flats in the key of C major.
• Two types of minor scales exist natural and harmonic.
• Natural Minor scales intervals: T, S, T, T, S, T, T.
• Harmonic Minor scales intervals: T, S, T, T, S, T+S, S with the 7th note being one semitone higher.
• Pentatonic scales comprise 5 notes.
• Major pentatonic scales are made up the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th notes of the major scale.
• Minor pentatonic scales comprise: the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th notes of the natural minor scale.

Melodic Form

• Melodic form refers to the structure of a melody.
• Sequences involve repeating a melody at a higher or lower pitch.
• Arch form arises where a melody rises and falls in pitch like an arch.
• Retrograde form involves writing a melody backwards to create new melodic material.
• Tonality refers to the key of a piece of music and affects its overall sound.

Harmony & Chords

• Harmony stems from the relationship between different notes heard at the same time.
• Chords are created through harmony.
• A chord arises when playing more than one note at the same time.
• A triad involves a chord with three different notes.
• Chords can be build from the notes in a scale.
• A chord built on the first note of a scale is called chord I (Roman numeral for 1).
• Intervals dictate that chords might be major, minor or diminished.
• Chord IV in the key of C major would be an F major chord, using the notes F A and C.
• The third note in a minor chord is a semitone lower than in a major chord.
• Major chords contains 1st , 3rd and 5th notes notes of the major scale.
• Minor chords contain 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the minor scale.
• Major 7th contain Major chord with the 7th note of the scale added on.
• Dominant 7th contain Major 7th chord where the 7th note has been lowered by a.
• Minor 7th contain Minor chord with the 7th note of the scale added on.
• Suspended chords are A chord where the 3rd note is replaced with a 2nd or 4th.
• Augmented contain Major chord where the 5th note is raised by a semitone.
• Diminished contain Minior code where the 5th note is lowered by a semitone.
• Chord progression represents a series of chords that sound good one after the other.
• Diatonic involves using notes from within the scale.
• Chromatic involves using notes that are not in the scale.

Instrumentation

• Acoustic instruments generate sound through physical vibrations.
• Examples include strings, percussion, keyboards, brass, woodwind, and vocals.
• Electric instruments generate sound via electrical impulses.
• Examples include electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser, sampler, drum machine, turntables, CDJs, mixer and DJ software.

Musical Genres

• Rock & Roll (1950s)
  • Instrumentation: Double Bass/ Electric Bass, Acoustic Piano, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Acoustic Drums
  • Structure: Verse, Chorus, Instrumental, 12 Bar form
  • Harmony: Major Key, Primary chords and Dominant 7ths
  • Tempo: Fast: 160-180BPM
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Syncopation, Swung drum rhythm, Dotted Rhythms, Walking bassline
  • Technology: The electric guitar was a new invention. Solid body meant played to play very loudly, 2 track tape recording, Mixed in mono with no panning.
  • Small number of microphones resulted in some instruments distant. Unwanted sounds caused by the tape machine
• Rock (1960s)
  • Instrumentation: Electric Bass, Distorted Electric Guitar, Vocals, Acoustic Drums
  • Structure: Intro, Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Solo.
  • Harmony: Major Key/Minor Key, Major/Minor Power Chords
  • Melody: Major/Minor Pentatonic Scales & Guitar Riffs
  • Tempo: Relatively fast: 110-140BPM
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Syncopation
  • Technology: 4-8 track tape recording, instruments recorded seperately. Multiple microphones, Stereo recording and Hardware effects.
• Folk (1960s)
  • Instrumentation: Acoustic Instruments, Vocal harmonies, Piano Acoustic Guitar, Violin & Percussion instruments
  • Structure: Verse-Chorus, Strophic.
  • Harmony: Major Key/Minor Key
  • Melody: Major/Minor Pentatonic Scales & Guitar Riffs
  • Tempo: Varies
  • Time signature: 4/4, 6/8
  • Rhythm: Repetition
  • Technology: 4-8 track recording
• Soul(1970s)
  • Instrumentation: Electric Bass, Clean Electric Guitar, Vocals, Acoustic Drums, Electric Piano, Horns & Strings
  • Structure: Intro, Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Solo.
  • Harmony: Major Key/Minor Key & Extended Chords
  • Melody: Piano Riffs and hooks
  • Tempo: Relatively fast: 110-130BPM
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Syncopation
• Disco (1980s)
  • Instrumentation: Electric Bass. Clean Electric Guitar, Vocals - Male Falsetto, Acoustic Drums/Drum Machine & Synthesised Strings/Horns
  • Structure: Pop Song structure
  • Harmony: Minor Key & 7th Chords
  • Melody: Minor Pentatonic Scales & Guitar and bass melodic lines
  • Tempo: Relatively fast around 120BPM.
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Syncopation & 4 to the floor bass drum
  • Technology: 16-24 track tape recording, modern panning, Drum machines & Analogue samplers
• Reggae (1970s)
  • Instrumentation: Electric Bass, Clean Electric Guitar, Vocals, Acoustic Drums & Organ or Keyboard
  • Structure: Pop Song structure
  • Harmony: Major Key & Extended chords
  • Melody: Repetition, Catchy hooks & Melodic basslines
  • Tempo: Laid-back feel: 70-100BPM.
  • Time signature: 4/4, 12/8
  • Rhythm: Syncopation, Triplets & Comping accenting chords on beats 2 and 4
  • Technology: Multitrack Recording/Electric & Sampling
• Funk (1970s/80s)
  • Instrumentation: Electric Bass, Clean Electric Guitar, Vocals , Acoustic Drums & Horn Section
  • Structure: Pop Song structure
  • Harmony: Minor Key
  • Melody: Repetition & Guitar Riffs
  • Tempo: 90-110BPM.
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Syncopation & Triplets
  • Technology: 16-24 track tape recording. More experimentation & Drum machines
• Hip-Hop (1980s/90s)
  • Instrumentation: Sampleded instruments, Drums, piano & bass & Rapped vocals
  • Structure: Pop Song structure, Strophic
  • Harmony: Minor/Major Key
  • Melody: Repetition, Sampled melodies & Rap
  • Tempo: 80-100BPM.
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Syncopation
  • Technology: Digital tape recording, MIDI, Digital samplers & Portable studio
• House (1980s/90s)
  • Instrumentation: Drum Machine, Electric Piano & Sequenced Basslines
  • Structure: Intro, build up, drop.
  • Harmony: Minor/Major Key
  • Melody: Repeating hooks
  • Tempo: 120-130BPM.
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Syncopation, Repetition
  • Technology: Hard-disk recording & DAW
• Drum & Bass (1990s)
  • Instrumentation: Drum Machine, Electric Piano & Sequenced Basslines
  • Structure: Intro, build up, drop.
  • Harmony: Minor/Major Key
  • Melody: Repeating hooks
  • Tempo: Fast: 160-180BPM.
  • Time signature: 4/4
  • Rhythm: Complex syncopation & Repetition
  • Technology: Hard-disk recording & DAW

Explore the different structural sections commonly found in music, including the intro, verse, chorus, pre-chorus, bridge, and outro. Understand the function of each section in building a song's narrative and emotional impact. Learn about musical elements like melodies, hooks and refrains.