The 4 Essential Elements of Good Song Structure

A song is a written composition intended to be played by the human vocal chords. This can be done in fixed and variable pitches with different patterns of silence and sound. Songs all have different types, including those incorporating the repeated and change of parts.

Songwriting is the creative process of coming up with musical ideas and coming up with an appropriate melody or lyric to go with it. The musical content of a song mainly consists of verse or chorus depending on how long the song is. The verses are where most of the lyrics are located while the chorus is the next level after the verse. There is no need to worry about the order of the verses and the chorus because they can be placed anywhere in the song as long as the songwriter can effectively play them. The musical arrangement of a song is usually where the lyrics reside.

There are four elements found in all songs, including rhythm, melody, harmony, and accompaniment. Rhythm is the beat that makes the song interesting to listen to while melody carries the listener’s interest through the music. It is the beat found within the music that allows the song to progress from one level to another. Interval is a term that describes the change in the rhythm that occurs from one part of a song to another. This transition from one area to another is what we call a contrast.

Harmony is the combining of the above elements and bringing together the total song into a smooth progression or musical piece. A major role in a song’s creation is played by the use of melodic patterns and the mixing of textures found in melodic patterns. Although melodic ostinatos and rhythmic ostinativeness may seem similar to each other, a distinguishing factor in a melody rests in the fact that it is created with the assistance of a human voice rather than a keyboard or a guitar. Human voices have an immediate effect on our listeners as they are able to affect the pitch, emotion, rhythm, tonality, and feel of a song.

Remaining current with the ever-changing tastes of listeners is a challenge for many songwriters. Keeping up with the changes and popularity of a particular genre of music without constantly changing the structure and tone of the song requires a great amount of skill and patience. The introduction of choruses, which occur after the verse and before the bridge, mark a major transformation in the song. Choruses mark the transition between verses and the bridge. While some songwriters choose to limit the usage of choruses, others choose to include them completely because of their ability to provide depth to a song. Achieving the goal of remaining current while maintaining the overall theme of a song is extremely important.

The final two sections of a song structure are known as the bridge and the chorus. The verses of a song establish the subject matter of the verse, while the chorus contains the rhythmic underpinnings of the verse. These two parts of a song require the addition of another musical device, such as a piano note or harmonious voice, to serve as a transition from one part of the verse to another. Interlocking parts such as the bridge and the chorus provide cohesion and balance to the song.