Song Structure in Music Explained (How To Arrange Your Songs)

[@LANDRmusic]

How do you like to arrange your songs?

[@craigolsen612]

LANDR very similar to this approach except I write in an empty midi clip what I hear In each section as well after I’ve created all my song parts in clip view ...verse and chorus are too vague for me....then I look at the parts of my song that I have and build a track around the info I placed on the midi track ....you would never know what songs I chose since I pick songs from all genres and decades and bpms it’s better for me to use songs that are completely unrelated to the type of song I’m making....great video! Keep it up!

[@LANDRmusic]

@@craigolsen612 That's awesome! Thanks for watching.

[@joshnic6639]

Well shit! Didnt the music change during the chorus? Like didnt it “go up” or something? I don’t care about lyrics. Lyrics are SO EASY!!! But omg the music part of a song is impossible! I honestly believe that no human being has ever written the music for the song. I believe they all came from the gods because there’s no mere mortal that can keep the timing and make the sound sound right. once again I’m not talking about lyrics, I’m talking about the music part. it’s impossible to do!!! Please prove me wrong.

[@chrisdawson8252]

@@joshnic6639 You're right but with enough practice, music theory knowledge and having the proper tools and team, it's possible.

[@chrisdawson8252]

@@craigolsen612 i used to do that when i started off. Later I learned from watching people in a horizontal view/timeline and I started doing that. I think it helps me work towards a full somg faster compared to a vertical view approach in session view

[@covertjellybaby9906]

this helped me become less of an amateur, a must watch for production

[@LANDRmusic]

That's awesome. I'm glad this helped you improve!

[@memez227]

Finally a proper video with good examples and simple short and professional explanation. Thanks!

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Songwritersbehindthecurtain]

@@LANDRmusic I did enjoy 😉 the video but haven’t you seen my comment yet?

[@JMP4it]

The moment at 5:35 where you pushed delete actually blew my mind! Thanks for a great, easy to apply tutorial- been trying to gain confidence and this helps tons.

[@LANDRmusic]

Ah that's so great to hear JMP4it. You're very welcome. Glad it helped you.

[@TheZachAtacKK]

No kidding! That is such a sick way to get a start in the songwriting process instead of just starting at a completely blank project.

[@yatinagore]

Concise, and more educational that 99% videos I've seen on arrangement.

[@NavinJAMES-l3q]

I haven't been able to sleep for months. They call me crazy but I can't sleep. In my dreams formless, faceless, shadowy figures walk to my bedside. They whisper. They whisper so much. I can't understand what they say but I know it is spoken with malicious intent. They will kill me in my sleep I know it. I sometimes see them awake. There forms are less visible when i'm awake but I see them. They want me to see them. They are making me crazy. But I'm not crazy. I have insomnia but I don't they all lie. They are all evil they are all monsters. I am stuck in a dream. I must end it. When I die it will end. My dreams are real nothing is real my mind has been stolen. Return my mind return my mind. I see them they are surrounding me. Great Vid really helped !

[@LucasTaylor-yc3gt]

nop

[@tongs1073]

ive been struggling with figuring out the structure for my song. Ive just been aimlessly making nice beats but have a hard time to think up of how to make it into a whole song cuz i don't have a clue about what direction to take the beat to. This video opened my frickin eyes so thankss

[@LANDRmusic]

I'm still stuck with structure sometimes even after making this video 😂😂 Glad this helped you.

[@rawkinj6609]

"Blackened" By Metallica has the key signature E Phrygian. Phrygian is a mode, neither of the more common major (Ionian mode) or minor (Aeolian mode). The BPM of the intro is about 72, the fast-paced parts are 192, and the slow bridge/solo is 128. "Blackened" has perhaps the most changing time signatures of any Metallica song. The intro is in 4/4, then 3/4, 4/4 again, and then followed by a 5/4 measure, leading into the 7/4 riff. Then, the verse is in 6/4, going into the 7/4 riff again, then a 2/4 measure leading into the chorus, which is in 4/4. The 7/4 riff kicks in again, then the 6/4 verse, another 7/4 riff, and another 2/4 measure leading into the 2nd 4/4 chorus. Then the slow bridge starts with a 7/4 measure, then 4/4 for the rest until the dual-guitar build-up section, in which every other measure is 4/4, and the other measures alternate 2/4 and 3/4, in that order, but starting with a 4/4 measure. Some find it easier to alternate counting 6/4 and 7/4 measures, or even counting one pattern as a whole: a 13/4 measure repeating over and over until the slow solo, which is entirely in 4/4. Then there is a short 4/4 break, ending with a 2/4 measure that leads into the fast solo, which is entirely 4/4 except one measure before the last part of the solo that's in 5/8. Then the riff starts again, in 7/4. Then one final verse in 6/4, then a 2/4 measure leading into the final chorus, which is in 4/4. The last chorus repeats itself, with different words. This repeat is tied to the previous chorus by a 5/4 measure. Finally, the outro is in 7/4. It is somewhat difficult for inexperienced musicians to count the beat properly during the riff, because of the odd time signature and the accented notes for the melody, as well as the snare, are played on the upbeat.

[@LANDRmusic]

This is a completely accurate analysis!

[@yungdnny]

Good easy to understand video! Just a few things I'd like to add: It's important to mention that the arrangement template here is based on pop music. "Bars" are subjective to the bpm of the song. 8 bars at 80 bpm is equivalent to 16 bars at 140 bpm because it's twice the amount of beats per minute. So keep an eye on the amount of actual seconds that each section takes so that there's enough room for a verse or a hook and to also not draw out the intro too long. and if you're reading this and make hip hop/beats, it's usually straight to the hook or 4-8 bars of an intro, 16 bars for the hook, then 32 for the verse, then the same 16 bar hook, then a unique 32 bar verse, then the hook one more time.

[@darkknight4205]

Till today, whenever I came across the terms Chorus, Verse, Bridge, etc., I didn't know what they meant. I knew that there were different parts to the song, I just didn't know how to refer to them. Your video cleared up everything. I really liked the way you used both auditory and visual aids, to describe the different song parts. It made following along so much easier! Now whenever I'll listen to a song, I'll instantly know which part is which. Thank you so much!

[@LANDRmusic]

Hey Batman, I'm so glad this helped you better understand song structure. Thanks for sharing your perception and progress!

[@SkyDxddy]

THANK YOU. seriously, thank you.

[@LANDRmusic]

You're very welcome!

[@rebeccamayo-cody3815]

Dude- very helpful! No extra chatter, straight to the point. Love that!

[@eugenebruno1481]

I knew something was missing in my music, i just didn't know how to look it up on online. This os priceless.

[@abbas1ne]

Could you do another video analyzing multiple songs

[@veeonex]

Thanks! This is so practical and easy to understand

[@cosmicsea7]

This is a great example for basic song structure! Thank you! Would love for you to break down and analyze the structure of a more complex song next. Maybe something from a prog rock or metal band. =)

[@abbas1ne]

thank you so much for analyzing a random song. That was exactly what I was trying to do but got confused LOL

[@cold5597]

Lifesaver, this helped me with my schoolwork, thank you so much

[@LANDRmusic]

Hey Al, so glad to hear it. Thanks for letting us know.

[@zameerpactyan]

This is the best video across the entire internet explaining the structure of a pop song 🎶 best wishes!

[@Hecatonicosachoron54]

thanks for the help! Especially at 5:35

[@kerwinfernandes9583]

Thank you for that explanation. God bless! 😊🙏🏻❤

[@audge-audge]

This was actually a really helpful video, thanks :D

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad it helped!

[@lpsdamasceno]

This is exactly what i expect to learn and see in order to understand. Thanks bro!

[@ThreeUnremarkableWords]

Thanks for the tip! I tried the same last week, but decided to put all labels in a spreadsheet. I should have used a daw instead! An addition could be to add empty midi clips to label where different instruments start, stop, and loop

[@LANDRmusic]

Yeah I've definitely seen empty MIDI clips do the trick. They look more clear as well.

[@BestBackingTracks]

Wait, this guy is the Australian prime minister?

[@BIGNOLZIE]

Whattttt

[@dominickjimenez6951]

Thanks you for teaching with actual examples. you even walked us through a song

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mbreally5325]

Awesome, straight forward, instructional. No BS. And a sweet Canadian accent too! What more can we ask for? Thanks.

[@LANDRmusic]

Hahah Cheers!

[@pachiramen4605]

Thank you so much for this !!!! This was super helpful.

[@mattihuhta7871]

A nice presentation of stucture basics. Also the formula to write the most generic music, like the one heard on this video.

[@daniel.shalome]

Well explained, I can teach this to my guitar students

[@abbieharris28]

thank you!! this was so helpful and easy to follow!

[@czj7761]

THIS VIDEO WAS HONESTLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH ANTHONY 🙌🏼❤️

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad it helped Claudius. You're very welcome!

[@sugathansajan3396]

WOW!!! NICE AND CONCISE EXPLANATION THANK U

[@shortrecipes9312]

Thank you so much for making this video

[@youngshady224]

This very helpful.. thanks man

[@Meadowcroftsound]

New subscriber gained. This is very well explained, simple and easy to understand, nice work!

[@LANDRmusic]

Awesome, thank you!

[@niyibanks9881]

Great video. Thanks for this

[@_._.-]

This helped me understand what is what better than ks :)

[@wastedtime934]

Thank you for keeping it simple. I'm a 63yr old guy and began writing about 9 years ago and have written hundreds of dark poems and prose since that time. I've always wanted to turn my writings into songs, but never had the wherewithal to do it. I'll give it a shot in hopes of also getting back into playing.my guitars. Thank you again.

[@LANDRmusic]

Hey Wasted Time, thanks for the awesome comment. I hope you are able to repurpose your writing into songs. Best advice that helps me is "Keep it simple stupid" haha. All the best, and please share if you ever record a song!

[@wastedtime934]

Thank you for the reminder. I'm very familiar with the old "KISS" method, but never thought to apply it to songwriting. Keep up the good work!!

[@Lunarr-es9dw]

Wow, you explained everything i wanted to know 📃 ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@OP-ks4co]

Phenomenal video. Thank you very much.

[@VijayKishore006]

Awesome tutorial tnQ. Deleting at d end is my fav part. 👌🏼👍🏻

[@LANDRmusic]

It was mine too! hahahahaha

[@rockinrollrebel]

What I took most from this video. Was the most important thing. Also I would say it was a slap in the face, like I should have figured that out on my own. If it was a snake, it would have bitten me lol. That being...... importing a song into the daw, and analyzing it as you did. Marking the breaks of each section. I have a lot of knowledge on theory, and how to play. Yet, producing is a whole new game. Thank you so much for the video. I am also a LANDR member. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@LANDRmusic]

Hey Justin. Thanks for taking the time to write that comment. It took me so long to figure this out as well. I was just writing myself into corners. I'm really glad this helped you - and I look forward to hearing some music that you produce in the future!

[@elpidaanastasiou9750]

I really liked your video and you explain things very simply and organized, thank you! Greetings from Greece!

[@MusikaNiHakay]

Very direct and educational.🎶

[@uduakekong916]

This was very helpful

[@Songwritersbehindthecurtain]

This makes perfect sense for what is song structure is all about hopefully 🙏 you’ll check out learn to fly for your next song structure and see what happens in learn to fly by foo fighters for stereo world by feeder because some outtro you can have a fade out instead of a end but man what you taught us about what is song structure many recording artist like jars of clay,foo fighters,hawk Nelson,audio adrenaline ,and feeder and don’t forget about one direction use alot of song structure and some have ending and some has fade out or even fade in and even both have fade out and a end like whooey by feeder. This video is very helpful thank you 🙏 for what is song structure is.

[@Confused-3932]

This is amazing and clear

[@alkebulanafrika6459]

this wa helpful.Thank you.

[@oakitis]

5:34 was epic :D Anyways, great video. Cheers

[@serialkiller7491]

Well explained pal🙌

[@growupjerry]

This helped me so much

[@viplove1658]

Thx for this video brother it's really helpful

[@LANDRmusic]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@sirijanthakur]

Thanks buddy

[@henryomorodion]

l like your use of a song to explain music structure 👏👏👏

[@theworldcinema2000]

Why u guys r very talented

[@alissonburgers5329]

Thanks for covering this topic. More on structure in the context of electronic genres! Anything worthwhile 🙏 .. I got chordz for days and there are beats a-plenty - structure is what it needs!

[@freddiegreen8300]

shush kman

[@ziggyzoogy]

this is just the video I needed ty

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad to hear it Bones!

[@daviddeyta7600]

AMAZING VIDEO!! Thanks a lot.

[@LANDRmusic]

Thanks David. Glad it helped!

[@BrianWould]

Great simple and easy to understand thanks !

[@Spencer1491]

This is super helpful, thank you!! Question - does Logic Pro also allow you to import a song and then label / break it down?

[@chaitanyamhatre4658]

Thanks you for helping ❤️❤️

[@LANDRmusic]

You're welcome.

[@dr4gon743]

@Landr! Thanks for sharing. This will help me with my research.

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad it was helpful! Feel free to share your research when it's done.

[@Cancel_Vulture]

This was really awesome so so helpful keep up the good work.

[@LANDRmusic]

Thank you! Will do!

[@luckywhyzly8323]

really helpfull, thank you

[@karbiguitarhero7432]

Thank you so much for the lesson I learned it from you.God bless you

[@LANDRmusic]

You are very welcome.

[@Aaaajjjjjaaaa]

Great video!

[@LANDRmusic]

Thanks!

[@LandsongRobin]

Great video, very helpful, would love in future videos if you did not have the overlay graphic title come in from the side, my brain just found that distracting and startling. Distracted me from learning the interesting content. Thanks.

[@jimlorentz4982]

This is an awesome video dude! Very helpfull!

[@LANDRmusic]

Hey Jim, thanks so much. I'm glad it helped you!

[@mynameismyname8841]

That was incredibly helpful. Thank you

[@LANDRmusic]

You're very welcome!

[@JOEY22445]

Could you go over or make a video describing like you said how other genres label there sections? I get mixed up on this because not all tracks have lyrics and not sure if it's a chorus a verse etc. Thank you and great video.

[@_ParkShark_]

Thank you! This was a big help!

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad it helped!

[@reliabledoubt716]

The middle 8 is the best part

[@bedroomproducer16]

Thank you very much!

[@walidroua1596]

Thnx for the video man, it really did help me

[@LANDRmusic]

I'm glad it helped Walid!

[@stedmenknox1169]

that is a really smart idea

[@royaltygarments165]

great video thank you!!!!

[@LANDRmusic]

You are so welcome eric!

[@rano12321]

Thanks for the video. Really should've used a DAW that has some kind of region markers, like something that shows the whole section highlighted and not like this.

[@daniyalahmedqureshi7831]

Do you have any tutorial which explains the different musical arrangement being used in different section. As I can feel in verse 1 we dont have drums but in verse 2 drums are added. So what are general rules of introducing different instruments in different section.

[@christopherstroup8906]

Can you do more of this specific video!

[@LANDRmusic]

Let us know how we can help more with this subject.

[@christopherstroup8906]

I was thinking like how you broke the song down into different parts, and than defined those parts with those terms. I’ve been wanting to just be able to do that to any song I hear.

[@arsyanazhima1476]

Thankyou, now i know the real meaning to the structure of a song, its for my English class😂😂🙏

[@lacirayne]

Thanks! This helped!

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad to hear!

[@SoundAgenda]

Great explanation

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad you think so!

[@AubreyFinch]

What is that app you used? Thank you so much so short and efficient!

[@LANDRmusic]

Hey! I used Ableton LIve. Check it out here: www.landr.com/plugins/ableton

[@elfizzo]

Pls can i remix my song by changing the verses including the chorus but the same beat just adding some keys to the beat?

[@felixthefool6065]

Thanks, man! :))

[@tabor503]

Great song

[@MrStevem121]

Thank you. Helpful.

[@LANDRmusic]

You're welcome!

[@hankfowler8194]

Great ! TY.

[@bastel_bande]

Thanks! Helped me a Lot! :)

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad it helped!

[@MabawaVocal]

explanation with a video,nice

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad you liked it

[@MabawaVocal]

@@LANDRmusic YES I DID....MORE EYE OPENERS LIKE THIS,

[@HaloWarZone]

Well made guide, helped a lot thank you :}

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad to hear it!

[@alexoduro5516]

Thanks a lot

[@mastergfunkdeniro4300]

Could you explain from intro to verse usually people stuck to take their song to Chorus, what should stay stable in instruments what should we add elements who moves around. For example kick snare and bass are stable elements and other instruments moves come and go, thank you

[@LANDRmusic]

Thanks for the comment. This is a great suggestion. The amount of stable instruments can vary quite a bit, but often times you'll have similar material from the verse to the chorus, but the chorus has a much bigger impact due to the increase in dynamics. It can get pretty subjective.

[@Monstercultz]

wow finally i found a short video explaining all the material thanks so much man !! i wrote music a couple years back and im trying to remember knowledge on how to do it again cause i wanna get back into it ^^

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad it helped!

[@sigmalitybruh2258]

Music is a art, you don't need to do the same thing. You can always do different

[@miahtavoa7290]

Thanks man this is very helpful😊😊🙂

[@LANDRmusic]

Glad it helped, thanks for watching!

[@momins-topic4470]

thanks man 🧡🧡🧡

[@LANDRmusic]

No problem 👍

[@BangTashSonyeondan]

Thanks alot! I'm trying to learn how to sing but I wanna try and make my own song first😅😅 this really helps!!

[@LANDRmusic]

Happy to help!

[@BangTashSonyeondan]

@@LANDRmusic ✌👍

[@chipegochiimbwe3265]

wow nice structure thanks

[@LANDRmusic]

Thank you! Cheers!