Contents
Songwriting Made Simple – What Do Sections Do?
Songwriting Made Simple – In this discussion, we will go over the names, descriptions, and functions of the sections of music that make up your song. Also, I will explain to you the number of sections that are needed for a song to be considered well written.
A lot of songs contain four sections or sections: the verse, chorus, intro, and end. Let’s stick to the standard format of sections for modern songs.
The Song section:
Verse: Usually 8 bars long.
Chorus: Usually 8 bars long.
Intro: Usually 2 bars long.
endings: Usually you will find these at the start of the song after a chorus and/or verse:
Fall Out Boy (play guitar solo)GSave Me (play piano)Fall Out Boy (play guitar solo) (remix)
Just Go (play guitar solo)Just Go (play piano)
In general, the song section will repeat itself for the following reasons:
1. Since sections are repeated many times along the song, the listeners will have heard the sections many times by now and will know what to expect.
2. The repetition of the section will listeners get to know the song.
3. Re-Creates excitement and tension in the song.
4. You may or may not have a climax and a release in the song.
During the song sections are repeated:
A B C D E F G
A section is repeated 1 timeThe B section is repeated twice B C D E F G
A section is repeated twice B C D E F G
A section is repeated twice B C D E F G
What are song sections called?
Songwriting Made Simple – The section is separated from the rest of the song by carrying a distinct groove, or melody. The section also tends to convey a feeling or theme to the song that is already expressed in the song or by the instrumentation.
The length of the sections is usually determined by the length of the phrases or parts used in the song. The length of phrases is usually determined by the amount of time that sounds or lyrical phrases are sung (not necessarily sung) in the song. The length of individual sections is also determined by the length of time the song is sung. Section names may or may not be the same as the ones used in the song; section names help to organize the repeating and summarize what has been said about the sections.
Songwriting Made Simple – The sections of a song are:
Beginning-A section that is usually 2 measures (does not have to be) and is the first to be sung or played
middle-6 sections of a 4 measure phrase with 4 beats (does not have to be)
Rox-A section that is 4 measures long and consists of the:
end of the first chorus
beginning of the second chorus
Beginning-Another 4 measure section that is the:
the ending of the first chorus
beginning of the second chorus
In present-day music, sections are often repeated, although the basic:
Beginning-A section that is usually 2 measures
middle-6 sections of a 4 measure phrase with 4 beats (must be in 4 beat stanza)
Rox-Another 4 measure section that is 4 measure long and consists of the:
end of the first chorus
middle of the second chorus
Beginning-Again a 4 measure section that is 4 measures long and consists of the:
end of the first chorus
middle of the second chorus
In ballads, there are several common variations in the song sections:
Vocal- usually the opening or refrain
Chorus- the section that begins and ends the song
Instrument- the instrument that plays this song
Sax- the voice that comes in on the common playing of the song
flute- usually the third or fourth note of the measure
trombone- the fourth or fifth note of the measure
sax- the voice that sings or is the second singer of the song
Percussion- these voices help create the beat of the song. They are:
cymbals- double-ended, with two heads seen in the song
trombone- the largest sectional sound in the song
sax- the voice that provides the singing on the fourth or fifth note of the measure
flute- the second or fourth note of the measure
pennywhistle- the least appreciated instrument, often used in songs that are typical of British folk or country songs.
The key to learning how to write or perform a folk song is in understanding how these songs have been created.