SONG STRUCTURE 101 (Pt. 1-A) - THE BASICS: Verse, Chorus, & Bridge

► CHECK OUT Part 1-B - TRANSITIONS: Intro, Outro, & Pre-Chorus NEXT!: • SONG STRUCTURE 101 (Pt...
Song structure is one of the most important, yet most overlooked, aspects of #songwriting. If you can master the most effective ways of putting together the various "puzzle pieces" (song sections) used in all subgenres of popular music, then you will take a giant leap toward greatness as a songwriter! And in this video series - Song Structure 101 - I will teach you everything I personally know about the secrets of good song structure. We'll start in this video by covering the 3 most basic and important song segments: the Verse, the Chorus, and the Bridge. I'll explain what their functions and roles are in a song, what they (should) do for the listener, how they typically connect to each other, and why organizing those song sections in particular "tried and true" ways makes sense to our ears, brains, and hearts. In 2 more videos to follow I will delve into transitional song segments, as well as optional song segments that you can throw into the mix, if you like, to add even more interest, variety, and spice to your songwriting. So, please stay tuned, and I hope this series on one of songwriting's foundational topics will help you take your songs to a new level! Thanks for watching, and please LEAVE A COMMENT letting me know anything else you would like to learn about songwriting here on The Ghost Mall's channel. Keep rocking!
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Thanks for watching, retro-lover!!

[@TheGhostMall]

Hey fellow songwriter! If you're ready to move on to the next segment, then please check out Part 1-B - TRANSITIONS: Intro, Outro, & Pre-Chorus NEXT!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6u0lq1jd7R5sMU

[@deejay7339]

this is great, unlike certain other youtubers saying a lot but really saying nothing to add up views. These videos are appreciated!

[@Him042]

Thankyou.

[@AurA_XT]

Bro imma need you to add time stamps

[@SwiftDreamer]

Thank you for this video man! Has anyone ever told you that you sound like kermit the frog?

[@TheGhostMall]

You are most welcome, thanks for watching. And yes, I get that all the time, haha! Kermit is evidently my Muppet counterpart. :-D

[@NycbodyTrizzy]

Yea thx for the video my guy! also he’s right you do sound like Kermit the fog😭😂

[@jamesjordan7]

@@TheGhostMall now that you mention it he really does and I can't stop hearing it.

[@TheShaneCheshire]

I was thinking Tina from Bob's burgers

[@otomeleifu]

The first thing I did when I read this was double take. Then after a couple seconds I heard it. Lol

[@karstux]

You know it's a good video when you have a notebook open and pause to take notes, skipping back to make sure I have it all. All info, no fluff. Perfect!

[@dawnphoenix1977]

I sat here with my pencil and notepad a laughed when I saw this comment!

[@louiseakhtar]

I came here looking for tips then quickly realised song writing is an art. You can't express yourself following a formula. Some of my songs don't even have a chorus - it's not for everybody and I don't expect many people to like my music but that make's it even better when somebody does feel what I'm trying to get across.

[@PerfectViolation]

This series is seriously better than 90% of the information out there. If you have come here looking for detailed and insightful look at how various song sections stack together this is the series.

[@TheGhostMall]

Thank you kindly, I really appreciate your kind words! I'm so glad you found this series useful, thanks for watching. :-)

[@TheFinalFantasyX]

This comment turned me here

[@connor9613]

The intro took 3 minutes my guy. But the content was worth it. Thank you

[@deejay7339]

Put into your craft what you think it's worth...

[@DimiKaye]

Yes! Arrangement done right! It is very useful that you explain the "why" behind each element, makes what we know from experience more clear. Very well done Ethan, can't wait for the rest of the videos.

[@TheGhostMall]

Dimi, my friend, thanks a million! I'm so happy you thought this was useful. Indeed, I think sometimes we get really caught up in where a certain song section usually goes, instead of thinking about what it's supposed to DO to the listener's emotions, etc. I'm glad that "why" seems helpful! I'm hustling to try and get the next one up soon. Thanks so much for your support, mate! :-D

[@DrPepper776]

just leaving this comment here in case i become relatively successful I can look back and thank this video in part to that hypothetical success.

[@tonywilsonmassey9364]

I wish you all the success. Hustle hard.

[@Vtt3r]

Where can I listen to ur stuff

[@thezone5158]

Good luck buddy

[@HYPRdream]

I needed it broken down like this . Really helpful, look forward to watching more of this series. Thank you !!!

[@TheGhostMall]

Thanks so much, I'm thrilled you found this useful. Thank you for watching!

[@ZiggyBoyz]

I'm not a songwriter or composer but you made this video very informative and could help me edit music for my video effectively knowing the structure. Thanks Ethan! Keep it flowing bro 👊😎

[@smaina1499]

Here to learn more about music and song structure and I love how you explain concepts so simply. Thank you!!

[@TheGhostMall]

Hello, and thank you so much for your positive comment, I really appreciate it. I'm so glad you got some value from this video, thanks for watching! Best of luck making music! :-)

[@Songwriterbehindthecurtain]

@@TheGhostMall np 😉 the ghost mall.

[@felixthefool6065]

Love this. Straight to the point and explained simply. Very good my friend 🤌

[@WhereisNimbus]

My hats off to you man! Hands down, to you teaching style. The way you broke down the lesson really helped my understanding. 🤯👏👏👏

[@PabloDeModeOfficial]

Really interesting video series! I’ve listened to a lot of sings from the 80s and I noticed that some of Madonna’s biggest hits at that time have the following structure: Intro/Theme, Chorus, Verse, Prechorus, Chorus, Verse 2, Prechorus, Chorus, Bridge, Instrumental section, Prechorus, Bridge and Chorus/Ad lib. I took this structure from “Into the groove” which is disco-pop oriented. A lot of her hits have this patterns or a a little variation (Causing a Commotion, Like a Prayer, Deeper and Deeper, etc.). I guess this is more a loop-oriented way of the pop style rather than the linnear way which is more rock oriented, IMHO.

[@tysoflowin]

This is a really helpful video series, I'm trying to learn how to write songs and I figured this was a good place to start. After listening to some songs a really good example of this basic song structure I found was Ruby by Kaiser Chiefs. Thanks for making these videos, they're very helpful.

[@TheCraftyCrafter]

thank you lol finally a songwriting structure video that makes sense to me and is well organized 🙏💗

[@obenohnebohne]

Exactly what I need right now. Clear and simple. Many things I already knew, but the little additions made it very valuable.

[@jaygravitygames]

I love retrowave!!!! I plan to write acoustic folk though! I love the intro, i was like “hell yeaaaa retrowave” 😇 future cop is so dope

[@jimmiewop3323]

Been looking for a breakdown like this for awhile. Awesome stuff

[@stansugasgummysmile558]

I was looking all over for this kind of video. Thanks for making it! It was really helpful :-D

[@rayderrich]

Very grateful for this clear presentation, thank you.

[@TheBoyWithDreams]

Thankyou so much for such a beautiful and curated content.

[@I.need.anewsong]

You have knack for explaining things clearly. You should consider doing more such videos.

[@itsanthony1980]

This is brilliant. Thank you. No one explains why we have these elements in a song. I'm mostly into heavy metal and can see some of the elements here in songs already. Interestingly the songs Holy Wars and Tornado of Souls by Megadeath use a different guitar solo or instrumentation as each chorus (or massive bridge elements depending how you look at it!). I implore anyone to listen to it as a really good way to see how song structure is broken and twisted. Once the basics are learnt of course.

[@KeithCopeland778]

Thank you for a very comprehensive tutorial!!!

[@chasing_butt3rflies]

4:20 oh my goodness my mom loves Billy Joel! Thanks for mentioning him :D

[@kag8975]

just from the first sec i love the concept and subbed

[@hyehye4832]

this was so well explained!

[@vj7248]

Extremely useful breakdown! Danke

[@zenrobotninja]

This is so very useful, thank you

[@futur_sunds]

Dude, great tutorial! Very helpful!

[@Korezbot]

Thank you for this!

[@NervylHraje]

Hi, great video. I'd just like to say that variations of the word "chorus" like hook or even refrain are the most popular ways to refer to chorus in different languages.

[@Songwriterbehindthecurtain]

Awesome 😎 lesson for song structure.

[@ssr_jimmybobby4603]

Very well done 👍 Excellent content! Cheers my friend 🍻

[@MannysVlogs]

The Ghost Mall, Hey what's up Manny here, i listened to the video and read the description, I subscribed and am learning how to write songs to tell my story with addiction abuse and recovery I've gotten to the part in my life where i decided it's time to share and chase my dreams since I've been thru hell and back I've decided to write songs. But i plan to check out your channel more at a later time thank you for your time.

[@dragon-id5uj]

coming back to this video for the umpteenth time over the past few years and it really struck me; there's a spot here that my friends and I explore that we also call the Ghost Mall! fascinating how like-minded people can be, hah.

[@eugenebruno1481]

I needed this more than a covid stimulus check.😎😎😎😎🔥👍

[@nikolonian]

Very useful, thanks. I learned about basic song structure and *bonus* how to pronounce 'Appalachian' correctly.

[@zenahrb8316]

Your channel is definetely underrated atm!

[@TheGhostMall]

Thank you kindly, I really appreciate your positive comment, and I'm very happy to hear you are enjoying my videos! Cheers!

[@kjtheproof5328]

Great, thank you!!!

[@birdiehop]

Great video!!! Thanks so much! I was listening to a Creedence Clearwater Revival song, well actually, their version of a screamin’ jay Hawkins song, I put a spell on you and I wanted to refer to the bridge and I was just making sure I understood what a bridge was because it repeats three times! I totally get verse and chorus but I think sometimes when things veer off of a more traditional structure, I get confused. I’ll listen to your other videos to get more clarity. I think the examples will help a lot!

[@noprob250]

This is exactly what i was looking for. Thank you very much from Wiesbaden Germany

[@TheGhostMall]

I'm so very glad to hear that this video was helpful to you! There are two more parts, so please feel free to check those out here if you'd like: kzbin.info/aero/PLEJkL-7ioPfRkpDra4dcO6l7DHuL9pDsM Best of luck songwriting!

[@stockman1515]

Great vid. Thanks for the info.

[@propellingonpurpose5104]

Thank you so much !!!

[@leader6303]

gunna binge watch ur channel :)

[@BrandoTheWizard]

This sounds like Nathan Fielder! Great vid

[@cbbaddextpromoter438]

still learning music language I guess am on the right channel.. sending love from Zambia

[@Blalack77]

Here's something I've always wondered about: What's the structure of Bob Dylan - Desolation Row? There are almost no repeated lines in that song and it's over 11 minutes long. I guess a lot of his songs are like that but Desolation Row just sticks out to me.

[@murdocgotbored]

awesome video dude, thanks for this

[@TheGhostMall]

Hello, and thanks for watching! It's my pleasure, I'm so glad you found the video useful. If you'd like to check it out, here is a link to the rest of the series as well: bit.ly/2ImHWi2 Happy songwriting!

[@NumptyButtkick]

Great stuff Ethan! Looking forward to the next part. Keep the videos coming :)

[@TheGhostMall]

Hi Ian, thanks a ton! I'm glad you liked this. Keeping up video production has been quite a challenge lately - I've been going through some health problems - but I'm working on videos whenever I can! The next part should be finished in a few days. Cheers!

[@NumptyButtkick]

@@TheGhostMall Well hope you feel better soon buddy, take time off if you need to :)

[@TheGhostMall]

Thanks for the support Ian, I appreciate it. It's a work in progress, haha. At any rate, the 2nd video in this series will be up tomorrow, I hope you'll find it useful!

[@ittweak]

Amazing easy and well explained thk very much for this, real instructive!!!

[@ittweak]

Got a new follower btw ;)

[@TheGhostMall]

Thanks so much for your positive comment, I'm really happy that you found this helpful!

[@juliansolo1825]

Very nice! This is may be one of the most important topic of the moment for me and I am sure for many people around here. Whether it is for RetroSynthwave, Pop, EDM, Orchestra or Film scoring the information or exemples about it is so limited so thank you very much Ethan for doing this ! It is really appreciated. Would you be willing to analyse some song structures too within the video?? Can't wait for the next episode!

[@TheGhostMall]

Hi Julian, thank you! And thanks again for giving me the topic for this series! I hope you will find the series useful. In fact, video #2 will be up here on KZbin tomorrow. Absolutely, I plan to analyze quite a number of actual song examples in the final videos of the series. I'll break down about half a dozen 80s classics, as well as half a dozen modern hits. I hope that will provide some insight into the structures of some really strong songs. All the best, Julian!

[@twocanucksful]

Great video. Thank you.

[@Camrulesidk]

This explained so much. Know im late but thanks.

[@autotroopermachine]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@TheGhostMall]

It's my pleasure, thank you for watching.

[@theenlightenentrepreneur2356]

Thank you, great content.

[@TheGhostMall]

It's my pleasure, thank you for watching!

[@BlackMamba-gx4zl]

Great video man! Very informative!

[@TheGhostMall]

Hello, and thanks a lot, I'm so glad you liked this video!

[@barrysmith8193]

You have hit on the “need” to our learning musical success. For a music teacher to accomplish they need to solve the root of the problem not the symptom of the problem. I’ve yet to find one in person or online that gets this. They all want to teach you what they want to teach not what I want to learn. Hence frustration on my part. I’ve made $millions in my life by solving frustrations for clients. Retired very wealthy because I learned this early in my career.

[@mikahylachiles5226]

I literally forced my self to watch this video and it was worth it ever single part damn I am a year late imma make this happen

[@DEADLINETV]

Brilliant! I think your channel is a vast space of knowledge for me!

[@TheGhostMall]

I'm so glad to read this! I'm very happy that you think my videos can be helpful to you. Thanks so much for watching, and for the positive comment!

[@DEADLINETV]

@@TheGhostMall Already implementing what you teach!

[@TheGhostMall]

Awesome, I love to hear that! So glad to be of some help, and I hope you'll find my future videos useful!

[@DEADLINETV]

@@TheGhostMall Sure! Let me know how to get in touch!

[@Elijahhofer]

well done👏👏👏

[@samuelabela7685]

You are my saviour!

[@kristopherjensen2513]

Thank you, Nathan Fielder

[@pachiramen4605]

Thank you Kermit !!! ❤

[@Youngyacy]

Bro you just changed my life

[@TheForgottenMali]

I very much appreciate your education thank you very much sir.

[@Top_Dawg360]

Thank you Kermit! 😊

[@MEMPHISxoxo]

I love the xxx reference

[@TURBOMIKEIFY]

Kendrick's Interlude comes to mind when I think about modern songs with no chorus. It only has Kendrick murduring that wildly timed beat (I end up making it work in 4/4, but the pulse sounds very exotic), and Ab-Soul calming down so Kendrick can rock his interlude. There was also a person making love to his saxophone for the last bit of the song. "I TOLD 🔫YOU NOT🔫TO FUCKING🔫MOVE!"🔫 -Kendrick Lamar

[@linkmancin4455]

Thank you!

[@TheGhostMall]

You're very welcome!

[@ealingland]

Fantastic 👊 thank you

[@TheGhostMall]

It's my pleasure, thanks for your comment!

[@HoryuArthur]

Great video ! Thanks for the content

[@TheGhostMall]

It's my pleasure! Thanks for watching, and for your comment!

[@HoryuArthur]

@@TheGhostMall

[@jeffishbilly]

Thank you Sir 👍

[@maryellis-eagleeyez5321]

WOW THANK YOU

[@AnmolShelke]

Thanks alot sir

[@ruguevara]

Great video!

[@TheGhostMall]

Thanks so much, I'm very glad you liked it!

[@GingerWaters]

Thanks for informative videos. Did you make a song analysis videos ?

[@sad_is_fiction]

Thank you

[@Ashtree81]

I didnt even know my favourit music genre was called retrowave! :D

[@TheGhostMall]

Well, at least that's what I, and a lot of other producers in the genre, call it. Glad to hear you dig it!

[@iknowthisone6844]

thanks kermit

[@kingech_B15]

I like this knowledge

[@TheGhostMall]

Thanks so much, I appreciate your comment! Thank you for watching.

[@stephenferrara9087]

OMG So funny, Yes you are right. Could you please break down the structre of Why are There So Many Songs About Rainbows?

[@ac138044]

hello very nice instruction. how does one get their songs out for visibility? thank you.

[@alainvosselman9960]

I am making a rockabilly/surf piece in ABAB plus a bridge. I have had big troubles formatting songs when playing alone. In group i seem to notice what format an idea is asking for. Also when trying to create jazz, it's like your brain spends so much energy on harmonics you lose track of what format it wants. The rockabilly starts with the bridge as an intro so i am not sure if this is the start of the song or if the bar count starts after the bridge intro.. If you read this feel free to comment. Thanks for creating videos like these !!

[@ahyanchris]

hard yung structure nito kpg ambient yung genre or outcome. pero sa opm at normal na not complicated song. goods na goods itong structure na ito.

[@azliluissembanawan4659]

I love how kermit teach me

[@permculture]

Hopefully you can take this as constructive criticism, when you reference a song as an example, us listeners may not know the song , so if you could play a bar or two of it, it is like a picture having the value of a thousand words. Great, clear video answering the questions that I did not know whom to ask.

[@icarusxd8989]

i looking for this tutorial for 1 month and i found it ;-; so hapyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@icarusxd8989]

im not a bot btw lmao

[@rherna55]

Awesome, thanks for the great info!! And also, thank you for turning me onto XXXTentacion!!! Haha, also why the hell did 22 people dislike this??

[@chrishickory7907]

Can a chorus be made of just the main singer and instruments to fill in the moments the chorus would sing?

[@sharmeenfatima2921]

Does the rap part can be a bridge

[@julianokhoshaba1]

can there be verse , bridge and then chorus ?

[@huabuc24]

good vid bro might wanna talk a lil faster thats it but keep doin your thing!

[@oscardejesus4490]

nice bro

[@TheGhostMall]

Thanks a lot!

[@yurianvise1672]

This applies also for scoring ? Like games and animes soundtracks , themes? Sorry I'm not too experienced

[@TheGhostMall]

Hello, and thanks a lot for your great question! I would say my answer is "yes and no." While the type of structures I discuss here can be used for scores or soundtrack-style music, there are also many examples of music for scores which do not follow any of these rules or format. Sometimes music for scores is more ambient, like a sound bed, with very little emphasis on melody. Other times, even though a melodic motif may be an important part of the piece, there is not a progression like this from an identifiable Verse to a Chorus, etc. Sometimes the piece will simply be based on one theme or segment repeated, or perhaps it will have alternating A and B themes, but it does not necessarily need a Verse, Chorus, Bridge, etc. (especially not laid out in the conventional "pop song" order). I hope this answer is somewhat helpful, and thanks again for watching and for your question!

[@yurianvise1672]

@@TheGhostMall thanks sir

[@TheGhostMall]

@@yurianvise1672 You are quite welcome, all the best!

[@yurianvise1672]

@connextro Actually I saw that anime soundtracks are a genre on their own. It's called anisong

[@yurianvise1672]

@connextro don't you dare judge me with an Spiderman photo .

[@onowattsoundvision9905]

Would you be able to send me a chart, or suggest one to look up, that is a 'complete' structure showing all segments of song structure & names/titles? Much appreciated. John Schutte

[@Zaque-TV]

Thanks for this. Im soooo bad at this. I can make riffs but putting anything together is my achilles heel

[@Prince_of_war777Elias]

Is the intro just melody or is it singing too?

[@eldritchbeing2879]

This guy wrote Rainbow Connection, yall better listen up.

[@TheGhostMall]

OMG 🤣🤣🤣