Song Structure Has 6 Major Types

Effective song structure provides the listener a song form that fits with the special way humans are hard wired for music. One of the tips writing music is to understand the human brain has a special relationship with music and lyrics. Some things work better than others.

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Great songwriting is all about using structure in songs that is listener friendly. With the different kinds of structure you choose also comes your ability to build in sectional differences and find ways to color the chorus to hook your listener.

People have listened to music all their lives and have developed expectations when they hear a song. They often don’t know it but they do. If a song isn’t organized with a lyric and music structure that works people will turn away from the song and not know why.

For some very interesting theory and research regarding this check out Wayne Chase’s book How Music Really Works.

Great songs all have a great idea, great music and great lyrics that fit together perfectly. The technical term is prosody. The emotional content of music and words must be lined up so the listener receives an experience greater than the sum of the parts.

This needs to be delivered in a song form that is people friendly and matches the emotional content of the song.

Over time songwriters have discovered the six song structures that work best. They are your structure guidelines. Be very careful not to stray from these forms.

If you do, you stand a good chance of taking your listener down a path their body and mind is not designed to travel. Your song will lose them and that is death to your song.

Here are the six music structures.