Parts of a Song and Understanding the Song Structure for Songwriters
Janvi Arora
- 19 September, 2024
- 10 min read
Table of Contents
Have you ever been struck by a melody but struggled to turn it into a complete song? The secret weapon of songwriters is not only inspiration; it is also understanding song structure and the parts of a song. Many artists refrain from learning the song structure because they think it would hinder their creativity and make the music less genuine. However, this isn’t true; understanding song structure can help songwriters create great music consistently, get better at storytelling, and communicate better with audiences and other musicians.
Therefore, this blog will break down different parts of a song, from attention-grabbing intro to lingering outro. By understanding the parts of the song, you will be well on your way to writing catchy tunes.
What are the Parts of the Song?
i. Intro
The intro sets up the tone and the expectation for the song. Just like the first hello, the intro also acts as the first impression of the song. How often have you skipped a song because the initial few seconds couldn’t intrigue you enough to listen more? It has happened a million times with me. On the other hand, some songs have such catchy and memorable intros that I can not get enough of them! That is how crucial an intro is. You can take inspiration from songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Stairway to Heaven, Choo Lo, and Mitwa to create an intro for your next creation.
ii. Verse
The verse comes after the intro and is the part of the song that tells listeners what the song is about. The verse is a good combination of storytelling and melody and contains the message you want to share in the song. Verses are the parts of the song where the lyrics take the entry, so make sure to make it worthwhile. Verses are typically of a few lines, and multiple verses make up a song.
Some songs that have great verses are Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen and Blank Space by Taylor Swift.
iii. Pre-Chorus
The pre-chorus warms up the listeners before they experience the magic of the chorus. It acts as a bridge between the verse and the chorus. However, it’s not present in all songs. It’s much shorter than other parts of the song and excites the audience for what’s coming next – the chorus!
One of my favorite examples of how the Pre-chorus builds anticipation for the chorus is in the song Talking to the Moon. The lines “At night when the stars light up my room, I sit by myself…” create a perfect tension for the evocative chorus coming our way.
iv. Chorus
The chorus is what the pre-choruses and verses build up the anticipation and tension for. The chorus is that part of your song that should stand out for your audience. Choruses include the catchiest tunes, the message you want to convey, your idea and inspiration behind the song, and often include the title. You can consider the chorus as the climax of the song!
Some things to consider while writing your chorus are that it should be easy to remember and repeated a few times throughout the song, and the message in the chorus must be relatable and something that the audience can resonate with.
For example, in the song Happy by Pharrell Williams, the chorus makes the perfect use of repetition of the title, making the chorus easy to remember and catchy!
v. Refrain
Refrain is like the chorus, commonly containing the title, but is much shorter and simpler. However, it isn’t used in songs often. Although, when it is present in a song, it repeats a lot, like the chorus. It commonly follows each verse and ties different parts of the song together. The refrain also reinforces the song’s theme and provides a memorable anchor point to the song’s hook.
For instance, the refrain of the song Counting Stars goes like
“Old, but I’m not that old
Young, but I’m not that bold
And I don’t think the world is sold
I’m just doing what we’re told.”
This section repeats twice in this song and wonderfully enhances the song’s overall theme and meaning.
vi. Instrumental Break
For many songs, an instrumental break acts like a breath of fresh air between its lyrics-heavy parts. An instrumental break is used in songs across genres and styles and effectively connects people with the music. For example, the romantic Hindi song Tum Hi Ho features a soulful piano instrumental in the middle, acting as a breathing space and creating a sense of intimacy and longing between lovers.
vii. Bridge
Bridge is another reliever from the repetitions, and it mostly comes at the end of the song, between the second and the third chorus. A bridge section brings variety to a song by changing the pace or altering the key. This part excites the listener for the final chorus of the song. Listen to the song Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars to check out the role of the bridge section in a song!
viii. Outro
As the name suggests, the outro signifies the end of the song. The outro of your song must leave a lasting impression on your listeners and fade out naturally. Often the outro of the song is a repeat of the chorus or a verse, and sometimes outro may just be an instrumental or a completely new section of music. One of my favourite outros is from Ed Sheeran’s song, Happier. It’s a beautiful outro of a heartwarming song and fades out perfectly.
What Are the Most Common Song Structures?
Spontaneity and randomness are great, but having a songwriting structure can help you simplify your workflow and yield great results! Honestly, there is no definite song structure that every songwriter must follow because there are several ways to write your song! Most popular songs use the basic structure of alternating verse and chorus, but a song is ultimately an artist’s vision and can take up many different structures.
Let’s look at some commonly used song structures. Note that in the following examples, A represents the verse, B represents the chorus, C represents the bridge, and D represents the pre-chorus.
i. ABABCB
This songwriting structure includes verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus and is the most commonly used structure in modern popular music. This songwriting structure is used in iconic songs like Shape of You, Set Fire to the Rain, Everlong, and Numb. You might observe that some songs following this structure have some variations too. For example, some songs include pre-choruses or refrains, and some double the duration of the last chorus for an extra effect.
ii. ABABN
Don’t get confused about where the N came from. The N represents a new section that helps your song deviate from the basic song structure. In this experimental song structure, the verses and choruses follow an alternating pattern of verse and chorus, and a new section at the end astounds the listeners. One song that uses such an unusual structure is Hey Jude by The Beatles. Can you recall the famous “Na Na” section that takes up the second half of this song? That’s the “new section” that enhances this song!
iii. ABAB
The ubiquitously used pattern, verse-chorus-verse-chorus, is used in varying genres like pop, rock, and blues! It’s a sweet and simple pattern that alternately uses the two song parts- verse and chorus. Some popular songs that use this pattern are “Smoke On The Water” and “All You Need Is Love.”
iv. ADBADB
This songwriting structure includes verse – pre-chorus – chorus – verse – pre-chorus –chorus. The use of the pre-chorus adds a different feel to the song and effectively increases the anticipation for what’s coming in the chorus. The pre-chorus may slightly hint at what’s in the chorus and warm up the listeners for the climax. A famous song that uses this song structure is Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.
Variations on Common Song Structures
The best thing about songwriting is that it’s a creative process and can flow in any direction. Yes, there are some rules, but “rules are meant to be broken” is a common saying, right? Following are some variations of the common song structures used while writing songs.
i. AABABB
Instead of alternate verses and choruses, this structure includes the verse-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-chorus pattern. Songs with such structure double the first verse and end with two choruses.
ii. ABPB
This is another variation to common song structures and includes a post-chorus! The song parts in this structure follow the pattern of verse-chorus-post-chorus- chorus. Here, the verse acts almost like an intro and the post-chorus acts like a bridge.
How does Song Structure help in Songwriting?
Knowing the various song parts can significantly help you write better and give you a framework to follow. Having a good knowledge of song structures and parts of a song can guide you if you get lost while writing.
These songwriting structures have been used in popular songs for years, so you can be assured that people like songs with this framework. Also, our brain memorises and enjoys a song more when it senses a familiar pattern has been used in a song.
However, in a creative field like songwriting, music taste and creativity come on top, so the entire songwriting process boils down to your preference! Just ensure the song is meaningful, flows well, and sounds great!
To help all songwriters with this creative process, we have a course on songwriting on Torrins that takes you through various stages of songwriting and how to master it. To become a well-rounded artist, check out our other skill-based courses like creating a solo and preparing for a live performance.
Conclusion
A song structure helps you organise your song and help you write it following a framework that is well-tried and tested. Songs comprise various sections that make the song what it is, like the intro, verse, chorus, pre-chorus, refrain, instrumental break, bridge, and outro. Not all songs comprise all these song parts, but if you know the impact of these song parts, you can easily incorporate them into your song and see how beautifully your song unfolds! So, pick up a notebook and start writing that song you have been procrastinating for long!
Check out our platform for courses on essential skills like songwriting, harmony, improvisation, and more! Additionally, the guitar song lessons on our platform are very detailed and broken down into various sections dealing with parts of the song to help you master each song part one by one. Apart from guitar songs, we also have lessons on piano songs and bass songs, so check them out!
