Song structure and form

Songs are built from sections that repeat and contrast. Being able to name them and count their length makes it much easier to learn, remember and arrange a song. This lesson gives you the vocabulary and a simple mapping method.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

• Name the common sections: intro, verse, chorus, bridge and outro.
• Label a song's form with letters (for example AABA).
• Count the bars in each section.

Most songs are built from a handful of sections:

• Intro: sets the mood before the singing starts.
• Verse: the part that tells the story. The music repeats and the words change.
• Chorus: the part that returns with the same words and music. Usually the catchiest.
• Bridge: a contrasting section that appears once, later in the song.
• Outro: the ending.

A form map uses letters. Give the first section A. Repeats of it are A again. A new, contrasting section is B. A song might be A A B A (verse, verse, bridge, verse) or verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus.

Sections are almost always 4, 8 or 16 bars long. Count them in groups of four beats and you will quickly find them.

The 12-bar blues is itself a form: one section of twelve bars, repeated as many times as needed.

A form map shows what you actually have to learn. A song with 80 bars might have only three different sections.

Three common forms:

• Verse–chorus: Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus.
• AABA: two verses, a bridge, a final verse.
• 12-bar blues: twelve bars on a fixed chord pattern, repeated.

A form map for a short song:

Intro   (4 bars)   A  A
Verse   (8 bars)   A  A  A  A  A  A  A  A
Chorus  (8 bars)   B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B
Outro   (2 bars)   A  A

Mapping a song.

1. Play a song you know. Note when the music changes character.
2. Give each distinct section a letter, and reuse the letter when a section returns.
3. Count the bars: tap along in fours. If a section is eight bars, you will count two groups of four.
4. Write the map: "Intro 4 / Verse 8 / Chorus 8 / Verse 8 / Chorus 8 / Outro 4."

You now know the song's structure and have a short list of what to learn.

Do these in order. Each one is small. Tick the ones you have practised.

• 1.Map a song you know

  5 min

  1. Choose a song you know well and play it.
  2. Each time the music changes character, note it down and give it a letter: the first section is A, a new contrasting section is B, and so on. Repeats get the same letter.
  3. Write the sequence, for example A A B A.

  You have it when

  • You have a written sequence of letters for the whole song.
  I practised this one

• 2.Count the bars

  4 min

  1. Play the song again and count the beats in groups of four.
  2. Count how many bars each section has. Most are 8 or 16 bars long.
  3. Write the bar count beside each letter.

  You have it when

  • You can say how many bars each section lasts.
  I practised this one

• 3.Map a library song

  4 min

  1. Choose Stand By Me or Let It Be and listen to the recording.
  2. Find the chorus: the section that returns with the same words and chords.
  3. Write the form with bar counts, and the chord progression of each section.

  You have it when

  • You have a form map with the chord progression of each section.
  I practised this one

No tempo. Do this with a recording, pausing as you need. The skill is in listening for where sections change.

• Labelling every change as a new section. A section is a repeating unit, not every change of chord. Listen for repeated blocks.
• Losing count of bars. Count in groups of four and tap the beat. Sections are almost always 4, 8 or 16 bars.
• Ignoring the instrumental sections. Intros, solos and outros are sections too. Include them in the map.

A form map is the first thing to write when you learn or arrange a song. It tells you what you must learn (a few sections) rather than every bar.

Try it in: Stand By Me, Let It Be.

Short version (10 minutes)

Map one song you know with letters for each section.

Standard version (about 30 minutes)

Do all three exercises, then use the map to play a song without looking at the chords.

• Sections: intro, verse, chorus, bridge, outro.
• Use letters: repeated sections share a letter.
• Most sections are 4, 8 or 16 bars.
• A form map makes a song easier to learn.

You are ready to move on when you can honestly say:

• I can name the sections of a song.
• I can write its form with letters.
• I can count the bars in each section.