Songwriting 101: Learn Common Song Structures And Forms

Almost all songs are based on a standard song structure, which specifies the order in which the main parts of the song occur. Specific types of structures are called forms.

Why a Song Has Structure

Structure gives shape to a song and helps the listener follow the flow of the music and the lyrics. In a well-crafted song, for instance, the intensity of the music and lyrics drops at the beginning of a verse, builds up as the verse progresses, then hits a high that grabs the listener during the chorus. It’s this pattern of rising and falling, or tension and release, that can take a song from merely pleasing an audience to creating a real emotional response.

The Most Common Song Forms

Nearly all popular songs follow one of the forms described below, though many variations on these forms exist.

Verse–Chorus

The verse–chorus form includes two verses, four choruses, and one instrumental break. It usually follows this pattern:

1. First verse
2. Chorus
3. Second verse
4. Chorus
5. Solo (instrumental break)
6. Chorus
7. Chorus

Common variations on the verse–chorus form include:

• Adding a third verse before the final chorus
• Opening with 2–3 verses before the first chorus
• Opening with the chorus first, then starting from the first verse and proceeding with the pattern above

Examples of songs written in the verse–chorus form include Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” and The Beach Boys’ “California Girls.”

Verse–Chorus–Bridge

The verse–chorus–bridge form includes two verses, three choruses, an instrumental break, and a bridge. It usually follows this pattern:

1. First verse
2. Chorus
3. Second verse
4. Solo (instrumental break)
5. Bridge
6. Chorus
7. Chorus

Examples of the verse–chorus–bridge form include Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Great Balls of Fire” and The Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

Verse–Prechorus–Chorus

Though not a recent innovation, prechoruses have risen in popularity among songwriters in recent years. The verse­–prechorus–chorus form follows the pattern of the verse–chorus form, with the addition of a prechorus before each chorus. The complete pattern looks like this:

1. First verse
2. Prechorus
3. Chorus
4. Second verse
5. Prechorus
6. Chorus
7. Solo (instrumental break)
8. Prechorus
9. Chorus
10. Chorus

Songs with prechoruses rarely include a bridge, since the prechorus helps to break up and add variety to the familiar verse–chorus pattern. Examples of the verse–prechorus–chorus form include Sheryl Crow’s “Every Day Is a Winding Road” and Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine.”

Less Common Song Forms

The less common song forms below were mostly popular before the rise of rock and pop music in the mid–1960s. Though some pop songs continue to use these forms, today they’re used most often in folk music.

Verse–Verse–Bridge–Verse (AABA)

Most popular songs in the 1930s–1950s used the verse–verse–bridge–verse form, also known as the AABA form. This form usually abides by the following pattern:

1. First verse
2. Second verse
3. Bridge
4. Third verse

Though it may seem impractical—or even impossible—to write a pop song without a chorus, consider that The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” among the most widely played pop songs ever, is written in AABA form. “Hey Jude” is a rare exception, of course, but it proves that even obscure forms can be used to write successful songs.

Verse–Verse–Verse (AAA)

The simplest songs use the verse–verse–verse form, also known as the AAA or A form. Traditional folk ballads were written in this form; the singer would sing a song that told a tale in verses with the same melody repeated throughout:

1. First verse
2. Second verse
3. Third verse

The most well-known modern example of a song that uses the AAA form is Simon and Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair,” which is actually a reworking of a traditional ballad.