A song is a musical composition that combines lyrics (often poetic in nature) with music, arranged into a melodic and rhythmic structure. It is a form of artistic expression that conveys emotions, stories and ideas and holds cultural significance across many societies. Songs come in a wide range of genres, from Irish folk songs to African storytelling and Christian hymns to heavy metal, pop, rock and country. Some, like the famous Danny Boy or Franz Schubert’s Lieder, are considered Art Songs. They are typically more formally complex than popular and folk songs, and their notes and words may be written down. This gives them more of a permanent structure and makes them resistant to casual change.
Most popular songs follow a fairly predictable song structure and have set sections that are well known to listeners. These include the verse, pre-chorus, chorus and bridge. In this article we’ll take a look at the component parts of these common arrangement shapes and analyze some examples from popular music along the way.
The Introduction or Intro section is the first part of a song that sets its mood and introduces the main theme. It sets the tempo, harmonies, instrumentation, key and atmosphere of the song. A pulsating beat, for example, portrays a feeling of excitement and anticipation while minor chords evoke a sense of sadness or loss. An intro can also contain a variation on the main theme or a short instrumental break that seeds the main melody in the listener’s mind, creating a stronger reaction when it appears in the verse.