If I were to criticize the two articles I linked to in my last post, I would point out the neither says much about music.

Don’t you find it frustrating that so many people claiming to write about songwriting actually only talk about lyric writing? I certainly do, but my last article was guilty of the same sin, so let’s try to correct it by describing the musical characteristics of the verse and chorus.

First the Similiarities

Both verse and chorus usually require a melody set to words, so follow the ‘guidelines’ of a good melody:

• Notes are mostly in steps (C to D, D to E) with a few well chosen leaps (C to G, G to D).
• The range isn’t more than about a tenth (an octave plus two notes).
• Note choices are mostly in one key, with well chosen chromatic notes.
• Rhythms match with the words, placing emphasis on important words and syllables.

Second, the differences

• Verses are rhythmic, choruses are melodic
• Verses are low-pitched, Choruses are high-pitched

These are huge generalisations and you will be able to find exceptions that contradict them.

However, as in example by Pulp below, the verse is accompanied by a rhythmic riff that doesn’t change chord much. The vocal melody here follows a similar rhythm and doesn’t use a huge range. It also repeats notes a lot and uses a lot more quaver rhythms than the chorus.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ThRHYFQvU]

Compare this with the chorus, and we find longer notes, a much higher pitch and faster moving chords giving us more harmonic colour than the verse and a more melodic feeling.

Arguably it was rock music, via the blues and rock ‘n’ roll, that properly developed the verse-chorus pop song form, so maybe it isn’t suprising that this rhythmic vese, melodic chorus contrast is most common.

Yes, it is a generalisation to which you will find lots of exceptions, and I’m sure I’ll end up contradicting myself pretty soon, but at least I’m actually talkking about the musical aspect, and not just the lyrics!

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Other posts on form:
Form – The 32-bar Song Structure
Gradual or Sudden?

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