When discussing form in music, we are referring to the structure of the song or the arrangement of its different sections. Each section represents a specific moment in the storytelling, and it is important to understand how the song form can enhance the delivery of your message.
Sometimes, you may struggle with creating a story that captivates the listeners on an emotional level. This post aims to highlight the significance of song form as a tool to aid you in the storytelling aspect of your song. The ultimate goal is to ensure that your message is effectively communicated.
In the following paragraphs, I will demonstrate how the various song sections can be utilized and introduce the most common song structures you may encounter.
Verse:
After the introduction (or intro) section, which is typically instrumental and sets the tone of the music, the verse is where the primary context and idea of the song are introduced and developed.
At this point, you should already be grabbing the listener's attention and making them eager to follow the story throughout the rest of the song. However, it's important to keep things musically interesting as well. As the story unfolds, the musical arrangement and instrumentation should also evolve accordingly, allowing the music to grow alongside the narrative.
The verses can be compared to the recitative in opera, where the characters are introduced, and the narrative is developed. In essence, this is where you include the details of the story. By keeping your listeners engaged, you will leave them wanting to know what happens next in the subsequent verses, where you will further develop the story.
Pre-Chorus:
The pre-chorus is a shorter section that appears between the verse and the chorus, as the name suggests. Usually, this section introduces some additional story or musical nuances. Musically, you can introduce a degree of unpredictability and be more adventurous. From a storytelling perspective, you can use the pre-chorus to introduce an unexpected event or leave a question unanswered.
It's not necessary to include a pre-chorus in all your songs, but remember that it serves as a transition to the chorus. Typically, some musical preparation is involved, such as manipulating the register, texture, rhythm, and/or melody to make the transition obvious and impactful. The extent of these preparations can vary depending on the story you are telling.
Chorus:
The chorus is where you present the main idea, essence, lesson, or moral of the story. The lyrics should encapsulate the emotions or the overall emotional aspect of the song. Generally, you wouldn't want to be overly verbose here, but the length of the chorus will depend on what you feel is necessary to convey. The most important thing is to summarize and get straight to the point. In pop songs, it's common to repeat a specific word or phrase throughout the chorus, reinforcing the main idea.
You can think of the chorus as the aria in operas, where the narrative pauses momentarily to focus on a specific emotion or idea that you want the listener to remember when the song is over.
From a musical standpoint, the chorus is usually the climax of the song, featuring a more energetic section with denser texture and a catchy melody. It is the most memorable and singable part.
So far, I have introduced three different sections that can be found in a song: the verse, pre-chorus, and chorus. Sometimes, these sections are represented by letters, such as A for the verse, B for the pre-chorus, and C for the chorus. In this notation, you might come across song structures like AABA or AABCABCC, where each section is assigned a different letter and arranged in a specific sequence.
These forms are widely used in most popular genres, providing you with a solid starting point for telling your story with all the twists and turns you desire. The verse introduces and develops the story, the pre-chorus can further advance the plot, and the chorus encapsulates the main idea of the song in a memorable way.
However, if you feel that you have more to say or additional perspectives to offer in your story, you can always create another section in the song. This allows you to provide the listener with a fresh angle or explore different aspects of your narrative.
The Bridge:
The bridge section is typically a unique part of the song that appears only once. It serves as a contrast to the rest of the song, both musically and lyrically, and usually follows the second chorus. The bridge can present a different idea, offer closure to the story, introduce a new perspective, or unveil a secret. It should be treated as a distinct occurrence, with musical and lyrical elements that set it apart from the other sections.
In a previous post about microform, I mentioned using binary form to organize the development of melodies and rhythms. Similarly, macroform refers to how the song as a whole is structured. It is crucial to handle form properly in music because it serves as the main framework that supports your musical and lyrical ideas.
By now, you should have a better understanding of how you can use the different sections of a song to tell your story. Remember that each section informs the other, meaning that what you want to convey in your story will influence the song structure you work with, and vice versa.
Do you have any other perspectives on song form? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Happy composing!
