Popular Song Forms Defined

Strophic Form

Verse/Bridge Form

Verse/Chorus Form

Verse/Chorus/Bridge Form

Twelve Bar Blues

Musicians often use shorthand to describe the order of a song's sections.

For example,

A section- usually stands for a verse

B section- usually for a chorus

C section- usually for a bridge.

A typical song form can be represented as ABABCAB.

Strophic Form

The musical structure of each section stays the same while a new lyric is used for each
repetition; sometimes a short part of the lyric repeats.

Early English ballads, folk songs, and hymns use this form as in, for example, "Blowin'
in the Wind”, "Scarborough Fair." ,“The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald”

The form would usually be represented as A A A.

 Verse/Bridge Form

This was the most common popular song form from Tin Pan Alley in the twenties and
thirties. It is usually represented as A A B A; typically both the A and B sections were
eight bars long. The A section is the verse and the B section is the bridge.

Example: Beatles "From Me, To You"

If there's anything that you A

Verse want,
...
I've got everything that you A
Verse want
...
I got arms that long to hold B
Bridge you
...
If there's anything that you A
Verse want
...

The complete "From Me, To You" would be described as:

Intro Verse Verse Bridge Verse Verse (solo) Bridge Verse Outro,

Or: A A B A A B A
 Verse/Chorus Form

Currently the most popular song form, it is characterized by a verse with changing text
alternating with a chorus with fixed text (same melody). Often the chorus contains the
hook of the song. Sometimes the chorus can be quite simple.

Example: Beatles "Yellow Submarine"

In the town where I was A

Verse born,
...
So we sailed out to the sun, A
Verse
...
We all live in a yellow B
Chorus submarine,
...

The complete "Yellow Submarine" would be described as:

Verse Verse Chorus Verse Chorus Verse (Solo*) Verse Chorus Chorus (fade-out)

Or: A A B A B A A B

(*The solo is actually filled with sound effects!)

 Verse/Chorus/Bridge Form

Sometimes the verse/chorus form is expanded to a verse/chorus/bridge form. Typically

the verse and bridge develop the song's subject while the chorus provides some repeated
point of focus for the song as a whole.

Example: Beatles "Ticket To Ride"

I think I'm going to be sad, A

Verse

...
She's got a ticket to ride, B
Chorus

...
I don't know she's why C
Bridge riding so high,

...

The complete "Ticket To Ride" would be described as:

Intro Verse Chorus Verse Chorus Bridge Verse Chorus Bridge Verse Chorus Outro,

Or: A B A B C A B C A B
Sections of a Song
Musicians tend to use the terms that describe the sections of a song somewhat loosely. In
fact, the meaning of these terms has changed over time.
The following definitions provide some general guidelines.

Introduction
A distinctive instrumental section at the beginning of the song. Often it’s derived from
the chorus or bridge. Some songs have slow introductions that contrast with the faster
tempo of the song.

Verse
Leading section of a song that repeats with different lyrics set to the same music. Comes
before and alternates with the chorus or bridge. The narrative or descriptive development
of the lyrics theme takes place here. Sometimes contains the song's title and/or hook.

Bridge
The bridge provides a transition between verses or, in some cases, between the verse and
the chorus. Like a chorus it repeats lyrics and music together. Its primary function though
is to provide contrast or respite from the music of the other sections. It often leads away
from or back toward the tonic, either through alternative harmonies or through a key
change. Most early Lennon & McCartney songs have a bridge.

Chorus
The chorus provides a musical focal point to the song in addition to the verse or it is the
primary musical focus. Like the bridge it repeats lyrics and music together, but without
the feel of being a transition. Often contains the song's title or hook.

Hook
The hook is an important phrase of the song, usually repeated or emphasized in the
chorus. Sometimes it appears at the end of the verse and sometimes in both sections. The
words to the hook often serve as the song's title. The hook to be easily recognized, it
often occurs at the musical high point of the song.

Instrumental Solo
Many songs give one section over to an instrumentalist for a solo. Typically, the solo
takes the place of one of the middle repetitions of the verse.

Coda or Outro
A coda is an extra section at the end of a song that reinforces the hook or expresses the
theme or outcome of the lyric. Many times the coda section is designed to fade out. Some
codas are very substantial like "Hey Jude." A short coda is often referred to as a tag.
Refrain
Two or three lines of text that appear at the end of a verse. Recurs: same words, same
music. Included in the verse and not a separate musical entity like the chorus.

Twelve Bar Blues

Songs can also be arranged in twelve-bar blues form. Typically, 12-bar blues form
consists of twelve bars or measures of music and three chords, known as I, IV, & V. The
text/lyrics are arranged in a typical manner as well, usually consisting of three lines per
verse and chorus.
Each line of text/lyrics gets four measures of music.

12-bar blues form is found in blues, R & B, rockabilly, rock, and country music.

12-bar blues songs are typically played with a “shuffle” rhythm and a “walking” bass
line.

12-bar blues songs are usually in verse/chorus form

Conclusions

All popular music consists of all or some of the form parts.

These arrangements are not absolute and a song can modify some or all of the parts to
create interest or expectation.

It becomes the creative ability of the songwriter to arrange the song in the most beneficial
way.

Songwriters often let the music “dictate” what the arrangement and the various parts will
be. Add to this creative lyrics or text and interesting harmony and rhythm, and the song
has a greater chance of being widely accepted by the listening public.