Song Formats

1. Introduction to Song The most basic reason to write a song is to relate a feeling or message through music. When you write a song it can have any structure or layout you want, but if you want people to listen to your song it should follow some proven forms.

2. Song Components Verse The verse is the major medium for conveying the message of the song. Its other major function, both lyrically and musically, is to set up or lead into the chorus, the bridge, another verse, or a title/hook line. If it doesn't do one of those things well, it's not working. Verses have certain basic characteristics: a. The lyric, from verse to verse, is different or contains substantial new information each time. It may contain elements of previous verses but usually it is only the key thought of the song. b. The melody is essentially the same each time we hear it. The familiarity of keeping the melody the same makes it easier for the listener to focus on the changing lyric and not have to strain to follow the music.

3. Chorus The chorus focuses the essence, emotion and meaning of the song into a simple and easily remembered statement. The chorus is also usually the segment of the song often referred to as the "hook," i.e. the catchiest, most memorable part of the song. While verses usually concentrate on detail, the chorus can make a broader statement that bears more repetition. The basic characteristics of the chorus are: a. The melody is the same each time we hear it. b. The song's title usually appears in the first and/or last line, and possibly more. c. The lyric is usually the same each time, although you may want to use some new lyric information in subsequent choruses to develop the story. A good example of that would be a "turnaround": a tactic commonly used in country music, where the "twist" is not revealed until the last chorus.

4. Song Format What are the Different Formats? It may look complicated when you see a song described as "AABA" or something similar, but it's not. To start, consider the first melodic segment you hear (not including the intro) as "A." The next complete melodic section that has a melody different from "A" is designated "B," the third "C,". Repeats of any melodic segment get the same letter they got the first time.

5.   AABA Song Form     AABA is a classic song form with a long and popular history. At one time, it was considered the ultimate song form: melodically easy to remember. It is used in all styles of music and all tempos, but most frequently in slow or mid-tempo ballads, because its 32 bars (four 8-bar sections) make for a very short song at fast tempos. Note that despite it's famous history, the AABA form is not usually considered the most commercially viable and most of the ones you'll hear are written by the artists who perform them. When given a choice, most producers will choose to record a song with a repeating chorus. (example: ABABCB )

6. Verse Chorus Forms A few other basic forms with a repeating chorus: ABAB C B (Substitution of a bridge for the third verse helps to break it up.) AABABA (This version with two verses in front is also a much used form. Its workability depends on a very strong lyric continuity between the first and second verses to offset the delay in getting to the chorus. This is a much greater problem in a slow ballad than an up-tempo song because of the additional time it takes to get to the chorus. In this version also consider using your title in the first line of the chorus to avoid even further delay in reaching the hook line.)

7.       Now try to figure out the form of a song on your own !   Go to the next page in your Blackboard module and complete the assignment titled "What's the Form?" This Powerpoint presentation is adapted from Paul Sheldon's "Songwriting Basics."