Parts of a Song

When you hear a song, there is always a sequence which is followed from the start to end. It is like writing an essay, where you have to start by introducing your audience to your creation, guide them through it, and then finally conclude.

When a song is written keeping this pattern of writing in mind, it sounds perfect when the right music is given to it. Even though the song is written in a particular fashion, there can be certain repetitions which are also required for making it sound melodious and pleasant.

There are many parts of a song which may or may not be included. As mentioned earlier, songs sung with various types of music, like pop, rock, blues, traditional, hymns, etc., are framed with different parts, selected from a few decided elements.

No writing can start without an introduction, and therefore, the first part of a song is also its introduction. This is necessary, because it gives an idea about the main body and builds up a suspense among the listeners. The introduction is also made in different ways depending upon the requirement of the composition.

Sometimes it may be a short progression of chords which are played later on in the song. Otherwise, there can also be a solo lead which starts the song. A short drum roll is another popular way of starting off a track.

The verse is the most important part, and comes after the intro has set the tone for the song. The verse is actually the story of the song and the heaviest portion, which reveals what or who the song is about. It gives the listeners the message behind the composition and is accompanied with chords, leads, base, etc. There can be many verses to one song, but most don't extend beyond two or three.

Though not used very commonly, a refrain is a line which is used at the end of every verse; due to this repetition, it can also be the title of the song. Sometimes, a chorus is also known as the refrain, as it occurs at the end of every verse (mostly in case of pop songs), but only if the chorus is short and uses the title prominently.

However, a pre-chorus is a section which can occur after the verse and before the chorus. It is also known as a 'transitional bridge', which connects the verse to its main chorus and gives the song a harmonic structure.

The chorus is another very important factor in a song. Many times, it is more attractive to listen to, as its melody is often a complete contrast to the verses, thus making it more enjoyable in contrast. The chorus is also repeated after every verse, but unlike a refrain or a pre-chorus, it is a larger collection of words and comprises the summary of the whole song.

The bridge is included to connect two parts of the song. It is often an interlude of music, either solo, instrumental, or a piece of more than two instruments. Most of the time, a bridge is completely different from the music played for both the verse and chorus, which is why the listener gets a pleasant change. Sometimes, it can be accompanied by lyrics as well, but many writers prefer simply music.

The coda is the conclusion of the song; the word means 'tail' in Italian. There are a few sentences that are sung at the end of the bridge, where the listener realizes it is the end of the song. The coda can be played out by vocals, or a combination of music and lyrics.

There are a few other components which may or may not be included in the body of a song, but are important to know if you want to learn how to write a song. These are the climb, where there can be a complete change of subject between the verses.

The collision, is usually a section of music, exclusively, where the two parts of a song overlap each other for a short period of time. Another part is known as a break, which is also a musical piece, played during the song, to break or differentiate the two parts of the song.

This happens, when one piece of music stops playing and another, completely different piece starts.

With these various parts of a song, you can now write one on your own. There is no requirement to include all these elements in one song―you can pick and choose as you want.