Song structure templates

Most songs are built from a handful of sections arranged in a handful of familiar ways. Knowing the common forms makes it easier to write, and easier to tell your band where the song goes next.

What each section does

• Intro — sets the tempo, key and mood. Often 4 or 8 bars, sometimes just the chorus riff.
• Verse — tells the story. The music repeats; the words change each time. Usually 8 or 16 bars.
• Pre-chorus — builds tension into the chorus, often with a change of chords or rhythm. Usually 4 or 8 bars.
• Chorus — the main idea and the hook. Same words every time, the biggest part of the song. Usually 8 bars.
• Bridge — a contrast before the last chorus: new chords, a new angle in the lyric, a drop in energy. Usually 8 bars.
• Breakdown / solo / instrumental — a section without the main vocal.
• Outro — the ending: a fade, a hard stop, or the chorus riff one more time.

Verse–chorus

Intro · Verse · Chorus · Verse · Chorus · Bridge · Chorus · Outro

The backbone of most rock, pop and punk songs. With a 4-bar intro and outro and 8-bar sections, at 120 BPM in 4/4, it runs just under two minutes — longer sections or a doubled last chorus stretch it toward three.

Verse–pre-chorus–chorus

Intro · Verse · Pre-chorus · Chorus · Verse · Pre-chorus · Chorus · Bridge · Chorus · Chorus · Outro

The pre-chorus lifts the energy so the chorus lands harder. Doubling the last chorus is common.

AABA (32-bar form)

A · A · B · A — four 8-bar sections.

Common in older pop, jazz standards and many ballads. The A section carries the title line; the B section (sometimes called the bridge or middle eight) is the contrast.

12-bar blues

Twelve bars over three chords — I, IV and V. One standard layout:

| I | I | I | I | IV | IV | I | I | V | IV | I | V |

In A, that is A–A–A–A–D–D–A–A–E–D–A–E. The last bar's V (the turnaround) sends you back to the top. Verses and solos all use the same 12 bars.

Fast punk and short songs

Intro · Verse · Chorus · Verse · Chorus · Breakdown · Chorus · Chorus

Short sections, no bridge or a breakdown instead, and the chorus as often as you can get away with. At 180 BPM, 8-bar sections fly by in about ten seconds each.

Verses only (strophic)

Verse · Verse · Verse · Verse

Folk songs and story songs often have no chorus; the hook is a repeated last line in each verse.

Breaking the rules

Start with the chorus. Cut the second verse in half. Put the bridge after the first chorus. Rules are for when you're stuck; if a song works another way, trust it. Try your layout in the song structure builder to see how long it runs.

Free tools

• Chord transposer & capo
• Key finder from chords
• Tap tempo BPM
• Song structure builder

Guides

• Write a song with your band
• Record a band demo at home
• Common chord progressions