Songs are one of the oldest forms of creative expression. Dating all the way back to the paleolithic period, music has shaped our hearts and minds throughout history.
If you’ve made it to this page, you’re probably trying to shape some hearts and minds with music! Maybe you have a great idea for a melody and don’t quite know what to do with it?
It’s fairly common to have a decent plan for a song or some catchy lyrics without knowing how to structure them. Thankfully we’re here to help! This guide will cover the common parts of songs, some popular song structures, and what structure might be best for you depending on the genre.
What Is Song Structure?
Song structure is an integral part of music production and should be one of the first things you learn. Even though music is a creative art, it still usually fits within a few familiar patterns that make it easy for listeners to sing along or predict the flow.
So what is song structure?
Simply put, song structure is how parts of a song are arranged. There are a few distinct parts of a song that I’m sure you’re probably familiar with such as the chorus, verse, etc. Song structure is the way those parts are pieced together to form a song. For example, you might hear that a song has an ABAB structure. ABAB means that the structure of the song is A-B-A-B where A is usually a verse and B is the chorus.
‘A’ doesn’t always represent a verse and ‘B’ doesn’t always represent a chorus. Using A, B, C, etc. are just convenient ways to list out parts of a song in a short and concise manner. Anytime you read the structure of a song, each letter will usually have a description of what that letter represents.
But why even have a song structure?
Having a familiar flow for songs is very useful if you want listeners to enjoy your song. Think of the last song you heard. It probably had a predictable flow to it that was easy to predict, which makes a song enjoyable as it conforms to what you expect. That doesn’t mean it needs to be 100% predictable, but it’s much more relaxing to be able to follow along with a tune as opposed to getting tossed around mentally.
So we know what a song structure is now and a common way it’s represented. But, what are the different types of parts that a song can be made with?
Parts of a Song
There’s a lot that goes into making a song but the pieces can be fairly easy to organize. These pieces or ‘parts’ of the song make up the individual sections. These sections create the rise and fall of the song and create an easy-to-follow path for the listener.
So what are the common parts of a song?
Verse
The first part of a song we’ll discuss is the verse. Most people have heard this term and have a general idea of what a verse is.
As far as its definition, a verse is “a repeated section of a song that typically features a new set of lyrics on each repetition” according to masterclass.com. That basically means that it’s a part of a song that may have the same rhythm each time it’s played (or some small alteration), but lyrically it’s a chance to change things up and introduce new topics.
More importantly, the verse(s) of a song is a chance to tell a story focused on the theme of the chorus.
Pre-Chorus / Build Up
Next up is the pre-chorus/build-up. This is an interesting one as not every song will have a pre-chorus or build-up depending on the genre, unlike verses that are present in almost every genre.
The main purpose of the build-up/pre-chorus is to transition from an intro or verse into the chorus (the main theme of the song). It helps guide the listener, letting them know that the tone, tempo, or some other aspect of the song is going to change.
The pre-chorus/build-up is usually found in modern Electronic Dance Music (EDM), House Music, and quite a few other genres. These genres are heavily instrumental and are meant to be felt, which is a perfect place to use a pre-chorus or build-up as it’s usually used to build suspense.
Chorus / Refrain / Hook
Now the most important part of any song is the chorus! This is sometimes referred to as the refrain but isn’t exactly the same thing and we’ll explain why in a second. If you’re making EDM, Dubstep, or House Music, then this part is usually referred to as the hook.
The chorus is the most memorable part, the line in the song that you want to get stuck in people’s heads. This is usually the same throughout the song and repeated a few times depending on how long the song is.
I mentioned that a refrain is sometimes referred to as the chorus but it’s not always interchangeable by definition. Even though the refrain is usually a repeated part of the song, “Choruses also take into account the melodic structure, chord progression, and rhythm of a track where a refrain is defined by repeated lyrics alone.” according to eMastered.com
Post-Chorus
The post-chorus! A slightly less used element in song structure, the post-chorus is unsurprisingly the section that comes directly after the chorus.
Not every song has a post-chorus and at times the next section might just be another verse.
So what sets a post-chorus apart from other song parts that can come after a chorus?
Well, a post-chorus generally has similar elements to the chorus but with slight changes so that it’s not considered a verse or other element.
Bridge
Another common but less talked about song part is the bridge. It has a fitting name as it connects two parts of the song as a contrasting element.
The bridge has many uses in a song and can be used in different spots to connect sections. A common example is after an instrumental solo, you can play a bridge to connect you back to the chorus in a smooth fashion. The unwanted alternative would be to quickly transition from a solo to the chorus, jolting the listener and making the song unenjoyable overall.
Outro
This part of the song is fairly self-explanatory, the outro. After the song is done and it needs a conclusion, the outro plays out the tune giving the listener an ending.
The outro isn’t usually complicated and very often will just be a repeat of the chorus as it fades out minus a few instruments.
Elision
A less talked about possible section for a song is the elision. It’s no surprise that you might not have heard of this as it’s not that common in modern music. But what is an elision?
An elision is basically a short section of a song where the end of one section overlaps with the beginning of another. The ending and beginning can be played simultaneously, which depending on the genre, could cause confusion to the listener.
Instrumental Solo
Anyone who’s listened to rock music is familiar with an instrumental solo. This is a unique part of the song where the focus goes from the chorus or vocals to a single instrument.
Generally, an instrumental solo highlights a musician’s ability to play their instrument with skill.
What Are The Most Common Song Structures?
There are a wide variety of song structures that any musician or producer can use. Technically the possibilities are endless but that doesn’t mean all possibilities will sound good.
Despite all the possibilities, there are only a few common structures that make their way into modern music. It’s not surprising since most listeners like music that’s different but still familiar in structure. It makes predicting the flow easier and therefore less stressful to listen to.
So what are the most common song structures used today?
The most common structures you’ll find on today’s charts will be some close variations of AABA, Verse-Chorus, and ABABCB.
What do those stand for though? Below is a brief layout of what those abbreviations mean.
- AABA (Verse – Verse – Bridge – Verse)
- Verse-Chorus (Verse – Chorus – Verse – Chorus)
- ABABCB (Verse – Chorus – Verse – Chorus – Bridge – Chorus)
What Is AABA Song Structure?
I mention this one first since it was a common structure ‘back-in-the-day’ but has since faded out. At this point, many modern songs may use an AABA structure but not for the entire song. Since AABA will only cover 32 bars (depending on how long each section is), that structure can be found within songs today, but won’t be the entire focus of the song.
For example, the AABA structure may actually make up the chorus where the chorus is comprised of two verses, a bridge, and another verse.
Some examples of songs that use the AABA structure are:
- “Blue Moon” – The Marcels by Mel Torme
- “Over The Rainbow” – Judy Garland, Harold Arlen and E.Y.Harburg
- “Crazy” – Patsy Cline, by Willie Nelson
- “From Me To You” – The Beatles
- “Yesterday” – The Beatles
What Is Verse-Chorus Form?
Next up on the list of the most popular song structure is the verse-chorus form.
Another way this is written is as ABAB where A is the verse and B is the chorus. There are variations from this where the main verse-chorus is maintained and other song parts are added, such as an intro, instrumental solos, and more.
Some Verse-Chorus song examples are:
- “La Bamba” – Ritchie Valens
- “What’s Up” – 4 Non Blondes
- “Louie Louie” – The Kingsmen
- “Hey Ya” – Outkast
- “California Love” – 2Pac
What Is ABABCB Song Structure?
The third most common song structure is the ABABCB.
The A represents a verse, B represents a chorus, and the C represents a bridge. I’m sure you’ve already noticed that it’s the same as the ABAB structure but with an added bridge and chorus at the end.
Usually, the song starts with a unique verse, and each subsequent verse is changed slightly while maintaining a similar melody. The chorus on the other hand is usually repeated without change but may be altered to be more powerful with the same lyrics. Finally, the bridge is a reprieve from the usual flow of the song that gives the listener a break from the normal flow of the song before finishing with one more chorus.
Some songs that use ABABCB are:
- “Hot N Cold” – Katy Perry
- “High and Dry” – Radiohead
Pop Song Structures
Modern pop songs have some variety in their structures but many follow the common ABABCB structure.
While they follow the ABABCB structure, there will be some changes sprinkled in. For example, the electronic pop song “Middle Of The Night” by Elley Duhé uses the ABABCB structure with some small variations with a short intro and instrumental only parts after each chorus.
The beauty of music is that you can style it to fit you, so don’t feel too constrained by these structures since they’re only suggestions on what to start with.
For more info, I recommend checking out the Atlanta Institute of Music.
Rock Song Structures
Rock has been a dominant music genre for numerous decades. It has morphed into a lot of sub-genres from punk to alternative, and what feels like countless more.
Like many of the other popular genres that stick to the top of the charts, rock has a similar song structure that is replicated over and over with slight variations.
The popular song structure to start with for rock songs is a verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge (ABABC). This is very close to the pop song structure, just minus the final chorus. Also, like other genres, it is commonly altered to fit the theme of the song.
For example, a common alteration in rock is to add an instrumental solo. The length of these can vary greatly and are up to the musician writing them.
House Song Structures
House is a more recent genre (as far as the past few decades go) and has a bit of a different song structure than what we’ve talked about.
While you could compare this structure to having similarities with pop and rock, the names of the song parts are different and the structure has more emphasis on highlighting the drop (chorus) and building up to it.
A typical structure for house songs is an intro-verse-build up-drop-verse-build up-drop (ABCDBCD).
House has a lot more variety than the common ABCDBCD, especially in the bar length of each section.
EDM Song Structures
Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has a similar structure and production goals as House. While they are different styles with different focuses, the House structure is the same starting structure as most EDM, ABCDBCD.
That being said, they are still separate genres with different focuses. As an example, it’s common to have a longer drop (choruses) in EDM as the focus is very heavy on instrumental and enjoying the bass-filled theme of the song.
Song Structure Is SO IMPORTANT!
The main takeaway here is how important song structure is to learn. While you don’t have to follow a set formula for your songs, it’s best to start with one and have a general idea of how you want your songs to be structured.
It’s easy to come up with some beats or catching melodies, but knowing how to effectively combine them to tell a story takes practice. Hopefully, this guide has given you some ideas on how to formulate your songs.
More To Come!
This article is constantly being added to and if there are topics you think should be considered, then please comment below your suggestions!