{"id":12543,"date":"2026-05-28T13:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T17:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=12543"},"modified":"2026-05-28T13:05:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T17:05:54","slug":"an-introduction-to-song-structure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-song-structure\/","title":{"rendered":"Song structure: How to build a song (with examples)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong>Illustration:<\/strong> <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Jocelyn Tsaih (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jocelyntsaih.com\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Jocelyn Tsaih<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When a creative spark hits us that compels us to make music, the idea is almost never a complete song.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather, it&#8217;s often a smaller seed\u2014maybe a melody or groove that&#8217;s just a few measures long. From there, we have to expand upon this seed to <a aria-label=\"grow it into a complete song (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-song\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">develop it into a complete song<\/a> that we can call a finished work. But how exactly do we do that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Song structure<\/strong>, <strong>songwriting structure<\/strong>, or <strong>song form<\/strong> is what allows us to take our individual ideas and turn them into complete compositions. In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss some song forms and sections that are seen across all sorts of genres and styles, with a particular emphasis on popular music (no sonatas or fugues for today, as lovely as they are).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See our table of contents below to quickly navigate to a specific section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;ll learn:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#WhatIsSongStructure\"><strong>What is song structure?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Parts\"><strong>Parts of a song<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Intro\"><strong>What is an intro?<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#WriteIntro\"><strong>How to write an intro<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Optional\"><strong>Intros are optional<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Verse\"><strong>What is a verse?<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#WriteVerse\"><strong>How to write a verse<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Chorus\"><strong>What is a chorus?<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#WriteChorus\"><strong>How to write a chorus<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Alternatives\"><strong>Alternative options to keep in mind<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Bridge\"><strong>What is a bridge?<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#WriteBridge\"><strong>How to write a bridge<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#OtherSections\"><strong>Other common song sections<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#PreChorus\"><strong>What is a pre-chorus?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#PostChorus\"><strong>What is a post-chorus?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Solo\"><strong>What is a solo?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Outro\"><strong>What is an outro \/ coda?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Examples\"><strong>Song structure examples<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#ABABCB\"><strong>ABABCB<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ABAB\"><strong>ABAB<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ABABC\"><strong>ABABC<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#BeatsInstrumentalMusic\"><strong>Song structure for beats and instrumental music<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Textural\"><strong>Textural variations<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Rhythmic\"><strong>Rhythmic variations<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Timbral\"><strong>Timbral variations<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling ready? Let&#8217;s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-f5a2734ea82e3ec51d9db4acbad33d87\" style=\"background-color:#62daff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>New subscribers can try all of Splice\u2014including 200 monthly sample download credits, full access to all premium INSTRUMENT presets, and more\u2014for $4.99\/mo.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"WhatIsSongStructure\">What is song structure?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Song structure<\/strong> describes the arrangement of the parts of a song. It&#8217;s what allows us to shape a piece of music with sections that are sequenced and organized in a familiar manner, and can also provide us with some compositional ideas around how we can write unique\u2014but related\u2014additional parts to our song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a song consisted of a string of ideas that never recurred in any way, no matter how interesting each idea is, the composition as a whole might leave us scratching our heads. This is because one of the aspects that makes a lot of music so enjoyable is the <em>balance<\/em> between exciting surprises and fulfilled expectations\u2014and song structure helps us fulfill the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Parts\">Parts of a song<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ll dive into popular song structures a bit later, but first, we need to understand the individual sections that constitute them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the most popular components in the song structures of today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Intro\">Introduction (intro)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Verse\">Verse<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Chorus\">Chorus<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Bridge\">Bridge<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have some vocabulary around music, you might already be familiar with some or all of these sections, even if you&#8217;ve never written your own songs before. That said, we&#8217;ll dive deeper into each of these below, with a focus on how you might approach them from a songwriting perspective as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Intro\">What is an intro in music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An <strong>intro<\/strong> is the section that introduces us to the song. Pretty self-explanatory, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, an intro is instrumental. For example, let&#8217;s take a listen to the Foo Fighters classic, &#8220;Everlong&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Everlong\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AxuTd9rwEHQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, the first 30 seconds of the song (up until the vocals kick in) can be labeled as the intro. While the name makes it seem like it <em>only<\/em> happens at the beginning of the song, the intro often establishes some sort of theme that&#8217;s used repeatedly throughout a composition. In the case of &#8220;Everlong,&#8221; we hear the same ideas from the intro continue underneath the vocals, and reappear to connect various other sections throughout the song as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"WriteIntro\">How to write an intro for a song<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Intros are a great way to set the tone of your song, while providing an opportunity for the instruments to shine and the vocals to breathe (if you have a track that&#8217;s primarily vocal-driven). That said, intros can definitely feature vocals as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there are no hard rules, the following tips might be good to keep in mind when writing an intro:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Make it count:<\/strong> We live in an era where people&#8217;s attention spans are short and the skip button is always at our fingertips. With this in mind, make sure your intro has a selling point that grabs your listeners&#8217; attention, whether it&#8217;s catchiness, emotion, energy, a unique sound, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consider using it to foreshadow:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-melody\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">melodies,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-harmony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chords,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-rhythm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rhythms,<\/a> etc. in your intro <em>can <\/em>be completely unique from the rest of your song. However, you can also use the section as a way to foreshadow some other moment(s) in your track and further tie things together, as &#8220;Everlong&#8221; does. Whether it&#8217;s a synth melody that references a vocal line that appears later on or a drum groove that continues into the next section of the track, don&#8217;t be afraid to recycle existing material to write your intro.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t feel the need to write it first: <\/strong>Many essayists recommend writing your introduction last, after you&#8217;ve gained perspective on the direction of the complete piece; intros in music are no different. While it might naturally be that first seed that sparks the rest of your composition, if your starting point is a different part of the song, don&#8217;t let it be a blocker in your songwriting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Optional\">Intros are optional (in today&#8217;s pop in particular)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ll get into how to sequence our sections once we&#8217;ve defined all of them, but it&#8217;s worth noting here that a lot of contemporary <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/how-to-make-pop-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pop songwriting<\/a> is about conciseness and maximum efficiency, and for this reason, intros can often be shaved down to a few measures or even omitted entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Halsey&#8217;s &#8220;Graveyard&#8221; plays through a looping acoustic guitar chord progression just once for its intro, before her vocals kick in for the verse five seconds into the song:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Graveyard\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mOyWRbmRVEQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And for a song that completely does away with an intro, take a listen to Maggie Rogers&#8217; &#8220;Light On:&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Maggie Rogers - Light On (Audio)\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MfC8Arj_nCg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Verse\">What is a verse in music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>verse<\/strong> is the part of a song where lyrically, the details of the narrative often unfold. Instrumentally, it&#8217;s a section that&#8217;s typically a little more sparse or subdued (compared to latter sections we&#8217;ll explore like the chorus). It often happens more than once, with or without variations, though it doesn&#8217;t have to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of Kendrick Lamar&#8217;s &#8220;HUMBLE.,&#8221; the verses would be from 0:07 &#8211; 0:58 and 1:24 &#8211; 2:15:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"HUMBLE.\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H4RELGc9su8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And in Rihanna&#8217;s timeless hit &#8220;Umbrella,&#8221; the verses are the parts from 0:32 &#8211;  0:54 and 1:39 &#8211; 2:01:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Umbrella\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xXD5tltX9Pg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"WriteVerse\">How to write a verse for a song<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While verses are incredibly versatile and diverse, here are some tips that might help you get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tell a story<\/strong>: As mentioned earlier, the verse is often where the narrative unfolds. For this reason, it&#8217;s a section where the lyrics often change entirely in the event that it&#8217;s repeated (as heard above). Use verses as a way to tell a story, especially for tracks where lyrics are involved.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Save some drama: <\/strong>Verses are rarely the emotional climax of a track. Especially when it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-arrangement-in-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrangement,<\/a> try to save some of the &#8216;wow factor&#8217;\u2014maybe the guitars are palm muted instead of playing open chords, the drum groove is just using the kick and snare rather than the whole kit, the keyboard part cuts out, etc. The range for the main melody is also often smaller, not hitting the highest points in the song.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sweat the details: <\/strong>That said, don&#8217;t write off the verse as an unimportant section. In many popular song forms, they&#8217;re among the most repeated sections, so get creative on how you can make them engaging, without needing to go &#8216;all out&#8217; (an exception to this is in rap, where often times the verses can become the highlights of the track).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For more, be sure to also check out <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-verse-song\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our dedicated guide on writing great verses:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"0N4CXNXNV5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-verse-song\/\">What is a verse in a song? How to write a verse<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;What is a verse in a song? How to write a verse&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-verse-song\/embed\/#?secret=pRZVY7EBH3#?secret=0N4CXNXNV5\" data-secret=\"0N4CXNXNV5\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-c3706cc98d779b0d6fb864120a14adaa\" style=\"background-color:#62daff\"><strong>Voice to verse\u2014anywhere. With the addition of Splice Mic, you can instantly test and record ideas, explore genres, and unlock new creative possibilities, all from <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.onelink.me\/vNNn\/sozstw8b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>the Splice mobile app.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Chorus\">What is a chorus in music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>chorus<\/strong> is the part of the song that&#8217;s the big payoff\u2014the section that most people will immediately hear in their heads when they think about the song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lyrically, it&#8217;s typically more thematic or emotion-based, boiling down the core message of the song in a way that&#8217;s perhaps less narrative than the verse. Musically, it&#8217;s usually louder and more full in arrangement, and might use a larger melodic range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A classic example of a cathartic chorus is Queen&#8217;s &#8220;We Are The Champions,&#8221; where the chorus occurs at 0:39 &#8211; 1:11, and again from 1:55 &#8211; 3:09:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Queen - We Are The Champions (Official Lyric Video)\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tTYJryNgLH8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In BTS&#8217; &#8220;Dynamite,&#8221; the chorus occurs at 0:42 &#8211; 0:58, 1:33 &#8211; 1:49, and 2:23 &#8211; 3:14. A brief excerpt of it is also cleverly used as the intro:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Dynamite\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NvK9APEhcdk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"WriteChorus\">How to write a chorus for a song<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips you might want to consider when tackling your chorus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Focus on memorability:<\/strong> The chorus is the selling point to your song, both figuratively and literally (in the event that you choose to <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-music-distribution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">release your music<\/a>). Pull all the stops for your chorus and really try to create something that&#8217;s memorable, emotive, and compelling. Consider changing the chord progression from the verse if it helps the chorus stand out (although plenty of songs keep it the same).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Go out with a bang: <\/strong>Generally speaking, the choruses are likely to be more consistent than the verses, with changes in lyrics being sparse with each repetition (if there are any at all). That said, people often try to change things up, especially during the last chorus, to really go out with a bang. Consider making the final chorus special in some way, whether it&#8217;s by doubling the duration, briefly stripping things down, adding new instrumental layers, making it reach higher notes, <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-key-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">raising its key,<\/a> etc. (the BTS example above somehow does <em>all<\/em> of these things).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make sure it can hold its ground: <\/strong>Make sure your chorus can stand on its own and still feel satisfying. When people are previewing music, they&#8217;ll often scrub for the chorus, so you want to make sure it feels like the destination, rather than a section that&#8217;s passive or meant to lead into something else. If someone listens to this section and is unsure whether it was the chorus, that&#8217;s usually an indicator that there&#8217;s more work to be done.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Alternatives\">Alternative options to keep in mind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While we&#8217;ve been breaking down broad trends (within the specific lens of Western popular music) and making recommendations based on them thus far, we can&#8217;t stress enough that there are no rules to <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/how-to-make-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"making music. (opens in a new tab)\">making music.<\/a> As proof of this, several variations on the traditional chorus have penetrated the mainstream and become archetypes of their own. We highlight two of these alternatives below, to give you some ideas around how you might also change things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first is what&#8217;s colloquially known as &#8216;the drop,&#8217; an instrumental section most often found in EDM and its various sub-genres in place of the chorus. An example of a drop that completely took over radio stations in 2016 is the one in The Chainsmokers&#8217; &#8220;Closer,&#8221; which occurs from 1:10 &#8211; 1:30, 2:31 &#8211; 2:51, and 3:32 &#8211; 3:52.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Closer\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/u-YGV5xt-jk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The second alternative that&#8217;s becoming increasingly popular is the &#8216;anti-chorus&#8217; or &#8216;anti-drop.&#8217; Over years of conditioning, we&#8217;ve grown to expect the chorus to be the loudest or most intense section of a song. The anti-chorus plays on this, catching us by surprise by making the chorus more stripped-down or bare in comparison to the preceding section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example of an effective anti-chorus can be heard in Charlie Puth&#8217;s &#8220;Attention,&#8221; which hits at 0:48 with just a thumping bass guitar accompanying his vocals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Attention\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vxUBYHz_q1I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more, be sure to also check out <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-chorus-in-a-song\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our dedicated guide on writing great choruses:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"FjXhfKl6oh\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-chorus-in-a-song\/\">What is a chorus in a song? Understanding its role and importance<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;What is a chorus in a song? Understanding its role and importance&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-chorus-in-a-song\/embed\/#?secret=UlyGwfhUGK#?secret=FjXhfKl6oh\" data-secret=\"FjXhfKl6oh\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Bridge\">What is a bridge in music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>bridge<\/strong> is a song section that can sometimes be a secondary emotional climax to the chorus, although it doesn&#8217;t typically quite have the same ability to stand on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last section we&#8217;ll discuss in great detail, the bridge represents a turning point, often both lyrically and musically. Lyrically, there&#8217;s often some sort of revelation or realization. Musically, the arrangement or harmony might take a new turn. More often than not, it&#8217;s the section that connects the song to the final chorus, hence the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example of a bridge that rivals the emotional drama of the chorus is the one heard between 2:02 &#8211; 2:21 in Linkin Park&#8217;s 2003 hit &#8220;Numb:&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Numb\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/u-IcadiJCrE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also plenty of subdued, more intimate bridges, as heard in 2:29 &#8211; 3:02 of The Weeknd&#8217;s &#8220;The Hills:&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Hills\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G5XpJP7f_SE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"WriteBridge\">How to write a bridge for a song<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridges are great because they often break up the pattern of going back and forth between verses and choruses. When it comes to writing your own bridge, here are some ideas for how you can make it stand out from the rest of your track:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Try experimenting with the harmony: <\/strong>Many bridges make themselves feel different from the rest of the song by changing up the harmonic structure, either by going to a different key or simply starting with a chord that&#8217;s not the tonic chord (IV in a major key, or VI in a minor key, are common choices).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Think about contrast across all elements:<\/strong> In addition to harmony, consider experimenting with rhythms, melodies, instrumental arrangements, and lyrics that contrast with the other sections of the song.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lean into vulnerability: <\/strong>Whether it&#8217;s a singer-songwriter ballad or an instrumental beat, bridges are often emotionally expressive and impactful. What is the song <em>really <\/em>trying to convey? What melody will pique the listener&#8217;s interest in a new way? Don&#8217;t hesitate to lean into vulnerability when you&#8217;re putting together a bridge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For more, be sure to also check out <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-bridge-song\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our dedicated guide on writing great bridges:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"6VQyrF0RYV\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-bridge-song\/\">What is a bridge in a song? How to write a bridge<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;What is a bridge in a song? How to write a bridge&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-bridge-song\/embed\/#?secret=kTHungIbv0#?secret=6VQyrF0RYV\" data-secret=\"6VQyrF0RYV\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"OtherSections\">Other common song sections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While we&#8217;ve covered some of the most popular song sections above, there are also many other parts that are seen quite often. Before we move on to popular song forms, we&#8217;ll mention a few more here in rapid-fire fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"PreChorus\">What is a pre-chorus?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pre-choruses<\/strong> are sections that precede the chorus, typically smoothening the transition in intensity from the verse. They often feature a brief switch-up in tone\u2014like bridges, they might start on a chord such as IV in a major key, or VI in a minor key to create a building feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out 0:44 &#8211; 0:59 of Adele&#8217;s &#8220;Set Fire to the Rain&#8221; for a quality pre-chorus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Set Fire to the Rain\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uJdu4Lfy8aI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"PostChorus\">What is a post-chorus?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some songs that want to tack additional ideas onto their chorus will have a <strong>post-chorus<\/strong> that connects it to the next section. Post-choruses can actually be some of the catchiest parts of songs\u2014take the post-chorus heard from 1:10 &#8211; 1:29 and 2:30 &#8211; 2:49 of Ed Sheeran&#8217;s &#8220;Shape of You,&#8221; for example. The section feels distinctive from the chorus that it precedes, but plays on the material found in it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Shape of You\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ah4jxqEUekI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Solo\">What is a solo?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If we want a section that lets one instrument have a few measures where it&#8217;s distinctly featured, we give it a <strong>solo<\/strong>. Solos can be simple, instrumental renditions of existing elements from the song, or they can be incredibly technical and virtuosic, particularly in genres such as metal and <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-jazz-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jazz.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a listen to 2:38 &#8211; 3:08 and 5:05 &#8211; 6:53 of Pink Floyd&#8217;s &#8220;Comfortably Numb&#8221; for two great guitar solos (the latter doubles as an outro, a section we&#8217;ll get to next):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Comfortably Numb\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7f3EGjRxxNI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Outro\">What is an outro \/ coda?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Outros<\/strong> are a lot like intros, but they help us ride out the very end of our song. 5:07 &#8211; 5:50 of Porter Robinson&#8217;s &#8220;Sad Machine&#8221; gently ties a bow on the track, while building off of a synth line that&#8217;s a key ingredient of the composition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Sad Machine\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6M-F1vV3Dks?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Examples\">Song structure examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we&#8217;ve familiarized ourselves with the individual parts of a song, we can start to think about how they&#8217;re combined to create different song structures \/ song forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When musicians map out their songs, they often assign letter names (ex. A, B, etc.) to different sections to help articulate the overall journey. Over the course of millions and millions of songs, the world of Western popular music has naturally generated a few of these alphabetically-labeled patterns that are particularly common. Let&#8217;s explore a few below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ABABCB\">1. ABABCB (&#8220;verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus&#8221;)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ABABCB is perhaps the single most common song structure used in modern commercial music, appearing in genres spanning pop, R&amp;B, rock, and more. In practice, it translates to &#8220;verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Out of the songs we explored today, &#8220;Everlong,&#8221; &#8220;Light On,&#8221; &#8220;Numb,&#8221; &#8220;The Hills,&#8221; &#8220;Set Fire to the Rain,&#8221; and &#8220;Shape of You&#8221; <em>all<\/em> follow this structure on a macro level, demonstrating just how ubiquitous it is. Once you zoom in on each, you&#8217;ll find that there are some variations: a pre-chorus in one song, a post-chorus in another, a few additional measures here and there, etc. However, if you package the pre-choruses with the verses and the post-choruses with the choruses (as people regularly do when discussing high-level song form), you&#8217;ll find that at their core they follow this same ABABCB flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ABABCB is a great song structure to use in your own compositions if you want something that&#8217;s familiar and tested. It&#8217;s very much a &#8216;don&#8217;t-fix-what-isn&#8217;t-broken&#8217; form, and there&#8217;s no shame in reaching for it; it&#8217;s popular for a reason. An easy way to boost it is to double the duration of the B section at the end, not deviating from the main spirit but doubling the final chorus for extra effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ABAB\">2. ABAB (&#8220;verse-chorus-verse-chorus&#8221;)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ABAB form is simple and sweet, relying on the oscillation between two contrasting parts to drive the song. Despite sounding quite different in their application, &#8220;HUMBLE.&#8221; and &#8220;We Are The Champions&#8221; both rely on this song structure, with the latter doubling the second B section to drive the anthemic spirit home. This is a song form that&#8217;s as old as time, and is great for <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/tips-writing-better-lyrics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing lyrical music<\/a> as well as instrumental music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ABABC\">3. ABABC (&#8220;verse-chorus-verse-chorus-new section&#8221;)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to get a little more experimental, one other option is to consider bringing in a completely new section at the end of a song to surprise your listeners. The form that precedes it can vary, but is usually somewhat straightforward (like ABAB, for instance).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An iconic example of a song that makes an effective use of this sort of song structure is The Beatles&#8217; &#8220;Hey Jude.&#8221; The song starts off with a relatively straightforward pattern that alternates between verses and choruses, but then brings in the famous &#8220;Na na na&#8221; section for the second half of the song, which is only hinted at very briefly until that point:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Hey Jude (Remastered 2009)\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bkApuQWCPdM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now of course, there are tons of additional variations out there. That said, these song structures should give you a solid starting point if you don&#8217;t know where to take your track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"BeatsInstrumentalMusic\">Song structure for beats and instrumental music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the sections we explored today also translate seamlessly to instrumental music, it can&#8217;t be denied that they&#8217;re driven by vocals more often than not. Many of us who are just starting out with music production may be <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/how-to-make-beats-for-a-song\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">making beats<\/a> or instrumental demoes, rather than full-fledged arrangements with vocals (or, perhaps instrumental music is simply your area of interest).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If this is you, here are some additional techniques that might be helpful when it comes to expanding an idea into a full track, outside of the traditional conventions of verses, choruses, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Textural\">1. Textural variations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even in instrumental music, you often have tons of individual layers going on at once: the kick, snare, hi-hat, bass, keys, synths, etc. Without composing entirely new material, you can often create an effective contrasting section by simply removing some of these elements\u2014perhaps you keep the same kick and snare patterns, but mute the hi-hats and the bass, for example. Then, when you reintroduce these elements later, they&#8217;ll sound exciting thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/dynamics-and-silence-in-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the power of contrast.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Daft Punk&#8217;s &#8220;Around the World&#8221; effectively demonstrates this sort of technique\u2014the track doesn&#8217;t really follow a traditional verse-chorus song structure, but is rather essentially a loop of just one core idea. Despite that, it&#8217;s still engaging for its full duration because the duo cleverly remove and introduce layers that create regular changes to the overall musical texture and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Around the World (Radio Edit)\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ARfJ55bUAw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Rhythmic\">2. Rhythmic variations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another simple technique for expanding upon an idea is switching up the rhythmic pulse. In one section, perhaps your snare and other rhythmic accents are landing on the second and fourth beats of each measure, as they often do. To easily introduce a new feel, you could keep the same melodies, chords, etc. but cut the frequency of these hits in half\u2014making them land on just the third beat of every measure instead (a rhythmic technique known as &#8220;half time&#8221;).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a popular trick in rock music in particular. While it&#8217;s not an instrumental track, take the last chorus in Fall Out Boy&#8217;s &#8220;The Phoenix&#8221; for example\u2014the same material is repeated twice, with the rhythmic pulse changed to half time at 3:41. This simple change gives a whole new feel to the chorus, and helps create a new musical moment with relative ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Phoenix\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_WgCzPKYDWI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Timbral\">3. Timbral variations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, one simple way to add variation is to simply change up the instruments that are playing a particular part. If the melody is being played by a synth during one section, perhaps try switching it up to be played by a keyboard in the next. Even if the melody doesn&#8217;t change, the contrast in the timbre can make all the difference and pique a listener&#8217;s interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is how a seven-minute track like &#8220;We Are The World&#8221; works; the melodies don&#8217;t change, but each new voice\u2014and the unique interpretation it brings to the melody\u2014keeps us engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"We Are The World\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mIqhl0rH0Wc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The song also changes key several times, which is another easy way to create musical interest without writing entirely new sections. While extremely effective, key changes <em>can<\/em> sound a little cheesy (especially in today&#8217;s musical landscape), so do use them with intentionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ui27IChTrv\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-key-change\/\">What is a key change and why does it matter?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;What is a key change and why does it matter?&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-key-change\/embed\/#?secret=S6l8kF0vQO#?secret=ui27IChTrv\" data-secret=\"ui27IChTrv\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Conclusion\">Wrapping up our guide to song structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>And there you have it! As we did extensively in today&#8217;s article, the best way to learn about song structure is to learn directly from the music that you enjoy. Whether it&#8217;s vocal-driven or instrumental, you&#8217;ll start to pick up on some patterns and techniques that you can gradually incorporate into your own work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider starting off with shorter tracks, and then increase the duration and scope of your music little by little as you become more comfortable. Or, maybe you&#8217;ll try creating an epic ten-minute project from the start if that feels more fun for you\u2014whatever inspires you the most!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What other topics would you like to see us cover next? Start a conversation with us and an ever-growing community of music creators via <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/community\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Splice Discord.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Explore royalty-free melodies, chord progressions, and grooves by key, BPM, genre, and more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Join Splice today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to turn musical ideas into full tracks with essential song structure tips, examples, and techniques.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":12544,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1696],"tags":[1638,1633,1728,524],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Song Structure: Examples, Tips, and Common Formats - Blog | Splice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to turn musical ideas into full tracks with essential song structure examples from Kendrick Lamar, BTS, Queen, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-song-structure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Song Structure: Examples, Tips, and Common Formats - Blog | Splice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to turn musical ideas into full tracks with essential song structure examples from Kendrick Lamar, BTS, Queen, and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-song-structure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blog | Splice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Splice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-28T17:05:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-28T17:05:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Intro_Song-Structure_BlogPost.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Harrison Shimazu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/bitly.com\/namaboku-twt\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@splice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Harrison Shimazu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"18 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-song-structure\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-song-structure\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Harrison Shimazu\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1ed73f890efad66c4808440680e9e50d\"},\"headline\":\"Song structure: How to build a song (with examples)\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-28T17:05:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-28T17:05:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-song-structure\/\"},\"wordCount\":4008,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-song-structure\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Intro_Song-Structure_BlogPost.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"beginner\",\"composition\",\"make music\",\"songwriting\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Tips &amp; 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