Song Structure

Songs have basic elements that are arranged in a variety of commonly used structures or musical
forms. The order of the elements may vary, and not all of them are necessary in a piece of
music.

Introduction
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. Alternatively, the intro may be based
around the chords used in the verse, chorus, or bridge. In some cases, an introduction contains
only drums or percussion parts which set the rhythm and groove for the song, or it 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 verse roughly corresponds with a poetic stanza. When two or more sections
of the song have basically identical music and different lyrics, each section is considered one
verse.
The verse is the part of the song that tells a story. It gives listeners more insight leading to the
main message of the song and it moves the story forward. A song may have a number of verses,
depending on the form, consisting of several lines each. Not to be confused with a pre-
versewhich is an interlude between the introduction of a song and its opening verse. Although
less common now, the pre-verse technique was popular with the surf music of the 1960s.

Refrain
A refrain is a line (also can be the title) that is repeated at the end of every verse. The refrain is
different from the chorus in length and structure.

Pre-Chorus
Also known as the "climb", this part of the song differs melodically and lyrically from the verse
and comes before the chorus. The reason why it is called a climb is because it heightens the
anticipation of the listeners for the coming climax which is the chorus. 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 reappearance of the verse harmony in the chorus seem
fresh.

Chorus
The chorus is the part of the song that often sticks to the mind of a listener because it contrasts
with the verse and is repeated several times both musically and lyrically. It is almost always of
greater musical and emotional intensity than the verse. The main theme is expressed in the
chorus; the title of the song is usually included in the chorus too. The chorus is repetitive and
usually contains the hook - the part that grabs the listener's attention. The chorus is what makes
the listener want to listen to the song over and over.

Bridge
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.
The bridge generally delays an expected chorus. Since the listener is expecting the chorus, when
the bridge is performed, the listener is pleasantly surprised by their expectations not being met.
The chorus after the bridge is usually the last and is often repeated in order to stress that it is
final. 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.

Middle Eight
In music theory, middle eight refers to the section of a song which has a significantly different
melody from the rest of the song, usually after the second chorus in a song. Such sections often
consist of new chords, but also frequently just alternate between two chords. It is called a middle
eight because it happens in the middle of the song and the length is generally eight bars.
Middle eights are often quieter than the main song, which contrasts with solos, which are
generally more energetic. In slower songs, however, a middle eight can be used to generate
energy. By adding a powerful upbeat middle eight, musicians can add a great hook for an end
chorus and finale.

Coda
Coda is an Italian word for "tail"; it is the additional lines of a song which brings it to an end.
The coda (also called "outro") is an optional addition to a song.

The verse and chorus are usually repeated throughout a song though the bridge, intro, and coda
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 it may be improvised based on the chord progression.
Solos are a good way to involve the audience and profile talent within the band. A solo can also
break the repetition of the verse-chorus format. Both vocal and instrumental solos are very
effective in grabbing attention of the audience.