Learn The Parts Of A Song For Success

Updated 2/20/19

The parts of a song are important to understand because they are the skeleton you’ll drape words and music on it to create a compelling song. Knowing how to construct the basics can move you quickly to a better song.

Song structure is one of the most frequent problems beginning songwriters run into.

Decisions often seem overwhelming: What are my options? What’s considered the best structure for what I’m trying to convey? My song is too long but I don’t know how to cut it down.

One of the best things you can understand at the outset of your songwriting career is the parts of a song.

WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A SONG?

STORY TELLING ELEMENTS

VERSE – Tells the story throughout the song.

CHORUS – Summarizes the main idea of the lyric.

Is the emotional high point of the song
Usually includes the song title

TITLE -Your title should be your hook.

Granted, there’s exceptions, but your title is what people will use to refer to your song – from a pure marketing perspective, why wouldn’t you make it easy and make it the hook?

There are seven core chorus structures for placement of your title/hook (T). We’ll use a 4 line chorus as an example:

TT– (First two lines contain the Title)

Line 1 – T in the line

Line 2 – T in the line

Line 3 – No title in line

Line 4 – No title in line

TTTT (Each lines contains the Title)

Line 1 – T in the line

Line 2 – T in the line

Line 3 – T in the line

Line 4 – T in the line

-T-T (2nd and 4th lines contain the Title)

Line 1 – No title in line

Line 2 – T in the line

Line 3 – No title in line

Line 4 – T in the line

T-T- (1st and 3rd lines contain the Title)

Line 1 – T in the line

Line 2 – No title in line

Line 3 – T in the line

Line 4 – No title in line

T–T (1st and 4th lines contain the Title)

Line 1 – T in the line

Line 2 – No title in line

Line 3 – No title in line

Line 4 – T in the line

T— (1st line contain the Title)

Line 1 – T in the line

Line 2 – No title in line

Line 3 – No title in line

Line 4 – No title in line

—T (4th line contain the Title)

Line 1 – No title in line

Line 2 – No title in line

Line 3 – No title in line

Line 4 – T in the line

CONNECTORS

Connectors are exactly what the word says, they join other parts of the song together so you have a single flow to the song. Once you understand the connectors, read 4 Steps To Connect Your Song Scenes as an exercise to put them into action.

There are two types of “connectors” in a song and each has a specific role.

BRIDGE – contrasts in content with the verse and the chorus usually giving a new perspective on the story. A contrast can be achieved by:

Generalizing if the lyrics were specific

Focusing on a new emotion that’s come as the speaker makes a realization

Utilizing a different chord progression

Making the bridge a bar longer or shorter than the other sections

The bridge is the song’s “a-ha!” moment or a catharsis that happens for the speaker – is a different perspective on what they thought they already knew.

PRE-CHORUS OR CHANNEL – sits just before the chorus in a song and is used to build intensity or momentum into the upcoming chorus. This can be achieved by:

Creating longer phrases at the beginning of the pre-chorus
Bringing the melody line down to lower notes
Ramp back up with shorter phrasing and less space between notes/words

That’s it – all the parts of a song!

You should consider the parts of a song as building blocks. Sometimes you need a bridge – sometimes you won’t. Make that decision by aligning what you’re trying to say with the song, and what a particular song element does.

For example, if you need a big “A-HA” moment to reveal a twist in the song, then a bridge makes sense and you should incorporate one.

If you don’t need the song to have a twist or big discovery by the speaker – for example you’re simply telling a linear story – then no bridge needed!

Your best approach for song structure is to know what the parts of a song are, and what they do. Then apply them!