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8 Ways of Creating Contrast Between Song Sections Search

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Gary Ewer

The contrast principle is centuries old. Here’s how to apply it to today’s music. Donate

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Contrast has been an important

aspect of musical composition for
centuries. Back in the days of the Classical composers
Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, creating contrast
usually meant writing a piece of music that used two
different melodies. One of those melodies would
typically be energetic and vivacious, and the other
would be more tranquil and pastoral. The main goal of
musical composition was to show how you could weave $37 USD (Immediate Download)
those two melodies together, developing new ideas that
or READ MORE
borrowed from the two original ones.

In a certain sense, not a lot has changed in pop songwriting. You still get two contrasting melodies, a verse
and a chorus. You don’t, however, usually get the interesting development of new ideas based on the original Recent Posts
melodies, because pop songs, being comparatively short, don’t give you much time to do any “developing.”
Song Energy Needs to Move Up and Down

Nonetheless, using two different melodies to help create contrast is still an important part of song structure The Power of Brainstorming a Complete
Song
today. Providing contrast in songs means providing musical interest and momentum, and as such, it is a
Writing Sad Songs (and Why You’d Want To
crucial principle of musical composition in almost any genre past or present.
Do That)

As you work on your new song, you should closely examine and compare the verse and chorus melodies to Songwriting: Separating the Writing of Lyrics
From the Writing of Music
make sure that you are providing a good amount of contrast. Here are things to look for:
Finding New Songwriting Formulas

1. The chorus melody should be pitched a bit higher than the verse. This helps generate musical
energy in a very natural way.
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2. The chorus lyric should use more emotion-heightening words and phrases.
3. The vocal rhythms of the verse should be shorter and quicker than the vocal rhythms of the Select Month

chorus. Longer note values in the chorus help to accentuate the emotional content of the lyric.
4. The chorus instrumentation should be as full or fuller than what is found in the verse. This helps Categories
create an increase in momentum and general song energy.
Select Category
5. The chorus melody should be simpler than the verse, and comprised of shorter, repetitive
phrases. Repetition and melodic simplicity is a crucial part of what makes song choruses work.
6. Chorus chord progressions should be simpler and stronger than the verse progression. Meta
7. Vocal harmonies should be used more in a chorus than in a verse.
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8. The tonic note and chord should usually play a more significant role in the chorus than in the
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verse.
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In modern pop songs, it is possible for a verse to be “too different” from the chorus. In those cases, when the WordPress.org

verse is very short, or harmonically very simplistic, or where the vocal range is very far from the chorus
range, it might be best to consider inserting a pre-chorus that can help make the transition from verse to
Read What Songwriters Are Saying
chorus a little easier. About Gary’s Songwriting Ebook
Bundle:
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Written by Gary Ewer. Follow on Twitter.

I ordered your e-books,
Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle: $95.70 $37.00 (and and I am absolutely
get a copy of “From Amateur to Ace: Writing Songs Like a Pro“ FREE.) loving them. I've only
very recently started
writing songs (I've
Posted in Song Form and tagged chorus, contrast, form, music, songwriting, structure, verse.
written four...but all
within the last week!),
and the information you
Like 0 Tweet Share
offer is incredibly useful.
So, thank you!

Sue
Los Angeles, California,
USA
← Building Song Energy by Avoiding,… How the Notes of a Melody Imply Chords →

4 Comments
I wanted to let you know
that I am completely
Pingback: Weekly Guitar News Roundup: June 21, 2013
enjoying your e-books. I
think they are brilliant
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and fabulous to learn by.
I’ve written medical texts
Simon
June 17, 2013 at 4:22 pm Reply before and the secret is
to not talk down to
Great article Gary (as always). I read your blog religiously and always learn something. people, make it
understandable and
Would love to hear your thoughts on how to write progressive or experimental music if ever you get the time.
you’ve done an
Simon from Australia outstanding job on that.

Phillip Tirman, MD
Philip Quintas California, USA
June 17, 2013 at 2:30 pm Reply

You provide a rare and valuable service with your blog, Gary. I appreciate what you post and hope to incorporate more of the great
ideas you present here in my songwriting.

As a beginner, I have
visited a number of sites
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offering music lessons
and I find your site more
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material presentation is
Comment not only precise but also
specific for easy grasp. I
thought I should
commend you for the
good work. God bless.

P.P.
UK

Name *

Hi Gary, I just love all of

Email * your e-books. I do hip
hop as well as other
styles like r&b, neo soul,
Website and jazz. I often refer to
your e-books for
inspiration. You have
Notify me of follow-up comments by email. been stellar in my book.
Notify me of new posts by email. Keep it coming.

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Francis
USA

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I recently bought your

collection of e-books on
song writing, chord
changes and creating
harmonies and I would
just like to let you know
how pleased I am with
them. They have very
clearly answered so
many of the things
about music writing
which I've never been
able to really find a clear
answer to before. My
enthusiasm for song
writing has just come
back with a vengeance!
Many thanks!

Andy
UK

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