What does every song need?

Basic song structure consists of an intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus and bridge (many times, this is all tied together in an outro, too).

fender.com - Basic Song Structure Explained - Fender Guitars

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We have all sung along with our favorite songs, so whether we know if or not, we probably possess a great deal of knowledge about the parts of a song already. Let’s put some labels for these sections and define the common things that occur in each section:

Basic Song Structure Explained

Knowing the typical song layout will help songwriters create their own masterpieces. Basic song structure consists of an intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus and bridge (many times, this is all tied together in an outro, too). Below, consider this breakdown of song building blocks.

Intro

This is an easy one – it is found at the beginning and sets up the song, establishing many of the song's important elements, such as the key, tempo, rhythmic feel and even its energy and attitude. You will find that the intro is often the same music without singing over it as the verse or even the chorus. Sometimes, however, a song's intro will not have any material found later in the song. In this scenario, the goal is to create interest for the listener and encourage them to keep playing it. Either way, an intro typically last up to four bars.

Verse

This is where we get down to business and find out what the story is about. It’s the “Once upon a time …” section. Generally, there are multiple verses in a song, and they usually have different lyrics even though the melody will likely be the same. We get more information about the story with each additional verse. Considering that most commercial songs are between 3 and 4 minutes long, many people ask how many lines should be in the verse of the song. A good rule of thumb is to keep the song verses under 1 minute, or just a few lines.

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Pre-Chorus

The pre-chorus is not a necessary component and is often shorter than a verse or chorus. For the listener, it usually creates a feeling of wanting to be thrusted towards the chorus.

Chorus

The chorus is the big payoff and climax of the song. It's also where the verse and pre-chorus have been reduced to a simple repeated sentiment. For example, in the song “Let it Be” by the Beatles, it is the part where the words “let it be” are repeated over and over. The chorus is often the title of the song and is usually very similar each time it occurs.

Bridge

The bridge is a section that provides relief from the repetitive nature of many songs. Not only does it have different lyrics from the verse and chorus, but the music is a little different as well. It usually will start on a different chord from what the verse and chorus start with. Use the time you already spend listening to music as an opportunity to develop a heightened understanding of these common parts of the song. Every song you hear is a chance to learn about how musicians use these different components to tell their stories. Learn more about the anatomy of a song with this lesson from Fender Play and if you're not a member yet, click here sign up for a free trial.

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What makes a note perfect?

liveabout.com - Table of Perfect, Major, Minor Intervals in Music Theory - LiveAbout

In music theory, an interval is the measure of the distance between two pitches. The smallest interval in Western music is a half step. There are several types of intervals, like perfect and non-perfect. Non-perfect intervals can be either major or minor.

Perfect Intervals

Perfect intervals have only one basic form. The first (also called prime or unison), fourth, fifth and eighth (or octave) are all perfect intervals. These intervals are called "perfect" most likely due to the way that these types of intervals sound and that their frequency ratios are simple whole numbers. Perfect intervals sound "perfectly consonant." Which means, when played together, there is a sweet tone to the interval. It sounds perfect or resolved. Whereas, a dissonant sound feels tense and in need of resolution.

Non-Perfect Intervals

Non-perfect intervals have two basic forms. The second, third, sixth and seventh are non-perfect intervals; it can either be a major or minor interval. Major intervals are from the major scale. Minor intervals are exactly a half-step lower than major intervals.

Table of Intervals

Here is a handy table that will make it easier for you to determine intervals by counting the distance of one note to another note in half steps. You need to count every line and space starting from the bottom note going to the top note. Remember to count the bottom note as your first note.

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