Introduction to Song Structure

What is Song Structure?

The structure of a song is a science and art unto itself, one that warrants an entire course unto itself. The structure of a song essentially maps out how the song is assembled: songs are typically a balance of innovation and repetition, and hence the possibilities in structuring a song are infinite.

It is best to think of songs as a single unit composed of multiple sub-units. These "sub-units" are the building blocks of songs. In the rest of this article we'll take a look at some of these common"sub-units" to see how they are created and used in musical pieces.

Elements of a Song

Verse. The verse is one of the most repeated parts in a song. Verses help to move music pieces forward; they advance a song by allowing the lyrics to tell a story and deepening their emotional hold over the audience.

Verses often appear in songs one after the other. Listen to the following clip below of the song "To Zion" -- Lauryn Hill's heartfelt ballad about her decision to have her child. Note how the music remains the same during the verses; only the lyrics change as the song progresses. This is a classic example of two verses being put against each other, with the second verse being used to deepen the story and emotions created by the first verse.



To help put the verse in context of the entire song, check out this video clip of a live Lauryn Hill performance at the Grammys of the song "To Zion."



Chorus. The chorus is the "hook" of the song; it is the most memorable piece of a song. Because it strives to be memorable, good choruses are simple and catchy. Lyrically, a chorus should reflect the overall theme/meaning of the song. Often, the title of the song will be a line or phrase found in the chorus. Deriving the title from the chorus can help to make the chorus that much catchier and more memorable as well, in addition to reinforcing the theme of the song as represented in the chorus.

Madonna's "Vogue" is a prime example of a well-constructed chorus. Its infectious beat and simple but seductive lyrics helped make the song an enormous hit.



Check out the chorus as a part of the entire song by viewing the video below.



Bridge. The bridge is often the part of the song that is most distinct and unique; it is a noticeable change in the nature of the musical piece. As the name implies, the bridge often serves to unite two other sub-units of the song in a refreshing way.

"Estranged", a 9+ minute by Guns n' Roses, illustrates how a well constructed bridge can help a musical piece transition through its various portions without losing focus and cohesion. Without this bridge, "Estranged" would be lacking in coherence.



Check the bridge out in context: below is a video from a live performance of "Estranged" in Oklahoma, USA in 1992.



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