Song Structure

In this lesson we will look at the different characteristics of some of the most popular used forms of song structure. As well as that you will also learn how to work out a songs form for yourself.

 

So what exactly is a song form?

A song structure is basically the layout of a song, the manner in which it is divided and arranged into sections (i.e. verse, chorus, bridge etc.). Think of it as a blueprint for a song.

 

Most Popular Song Structure

There are 3 main structures used today, each one has its own characteristics and can be used to achieve different results:

• Verse/Chorus - The verse/chorus formconsists of two or three verses thatalternate with a second musical section referred to as the chorus. The chorus usually contains the songs main message and title. This is without a doubt the most commonly used song form today and if you listen to the radio a majority of songs will use it.
  
  
• AAA - This song form is used a lot in folk music because of the repeated verses it is suited well to storytelling.
  
  
• AABA - A lot of songs from the first half of the twentieth century used this song form but it's not as widely used today. It has repeated verses but then adds a bridge section which gives a bit of contrast.

How To Work Out A Songs Form

Working out a songs form is easy to do; it's really just a matter of listening to a

song, counting along to the beats, recognising the different sections and writing your findings down in proper order.

Here's the process in easy to follow steps:

1. Start from the beginning of the song. The first melodic segment you hear (not including the intro) is referred to as A.
2. The next melodic segment you hear that differs from A is referred to as B, the third C, and so on.
3. If a melodic segment repeats itself it is given the same letter it got the first time.
4. To work out the length of each section, count bars starting on the downbeat, such as;

5. Each time a new melodic segment starts, begin counting at one again.
6. Enter the total number of bars in each segment.
7. For solos and instrumental breaks just use Solo or Inst as shorthand as well as the number of bars they run.

By the time you finish you should end up with something that looks like this:

 

 

And that's it, that's how to easily work out a song structure.

 

Try It For Yourself

Practice this technique by listening to some of your favourite songs and applying the steps above. This will help you see how other songwriters put together their songs and in return help you to structure your own. Song Structure is the songwriting basics, so make sure you learn it.