What Is a Song?

A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice, often on distinct and fixed pitches. Depending on the style of music, it may contain various forms and include repeated sections.

Typically, songs are written in verse form with lyrics that rhyme, or in chorus form. They can also be written in pre-chorus form, which is shorter than the verse and chorus and is used to build up toward the main melody.

The basic structure of a song includes an intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus and bridge (many times this is all tied together in an outro). Learning the common parts of a song will help you understand how musicians use them to tell their stories.

Learn About Music History

Throughout time, songs have been used to heal and provoke emotion in listeners. They can bring people to tears, laughter or chills.

Music gives people hope, a sense of belonging and can be the bridge between different cultures. During severe times, music can also be a tool to break down barriers.

A song can also be a fusion of multiple genres and styles, such as classical and pop. Some of these combinations can be very popular and successful, while others can be a flop.

How to Write a Good Song

A good song contains both lyrics and melody. The lyric is written to reference a topic and the melody is composed to represent feelings. A lyric and melody that combine to produce a feeling that is not proportionate to the topic is called a bad song.