1. Song Form in Pop Music

2. Connective Tissue Intro Outro Transition Interlude

3. Intro can be long or short or not at all Usually instrumental Sets up the tempo tonality dynamic range mood

4. Outro Optional can have vocals - Repeat and fade A song can stop abruptly without one Functions like a Classical Coda no new musical ideas can contain vocal improvisation

5. Transition / Interlude Usually Instrumental Short Accompanimental patterns Between verses and choruses and bridge Connective - preparatory

6. The musical body parts Verse Pre Chorus* Chorus Bridge* Instrumental*

7. Verse Like a poetic stanza Uses phrases - like a poetic lines uniform in mood There can be up to three or four verses The melody remains largely the same The words change Usually narrative First verse can be repeated at the end

8. Pre Chorus* Same words each time Always precedes the Chorus Seems always to provide a transition between the music of the verses and choruses *not every song has a Pre Chorus

9. Chorus Same words Same melody Acts like a summary of the meaning of the song Can change instrumentation Can contrast from the style of the verse vocal range, dynamics, accompaniment patterns Can repeat back to back Can contain slight variations in words or melody

10. Bridge* Different words Different music, melody and accompaniment Provides contrast Usually comparable in length to a verse or chorus Usually occurs in the last 1/3

11. Instrumental* Used for contrast to show off the players in the band no words - but can have some vocals May be the same music as a verse - played rather than sung Can be improvisatory Usually equivalent in length to verse and chorus *Not always used in every song

12. LOOK AT THE WORDS FIRST FIND REPETITION FIRST Identify the possible chorus Listen Identify possible verses Go back and compare verses for repeated melody with new words Finally - look for the connective tissues

13. Possible Plans Verse 1 Pre chorus Chorus Verse 2 Pre chorus Chorus Bridge Pre Chorus Chorus Verse 1 Chorus Verse 2 Chorus Bridge Chorus Verse 1 Chorus Verse 2 Chorus Bridge Verse 3 Chorus Verse 1 Verse 2 Chorus Verse 3 Bridge Chorus Chorus

14. Beg, Steal or Borrow Ray LaMontagne Grammy nominee - best song 2011

15. Form • Verse 1 • Verse 2 • Chorus • Verse 3 • Bridge • Verse 1 • Chorus

16. Instrumentation • Lead Guitar / Bass • Rhythm Guitar • Drums / Shaker or brushes • Pedal Steel Guitar

17. Observations • Very economical with material • Interludes, intro etc - tend to repeat • Pedal steel and Lead guitar punctuate the vocal lines • The composer tends to add instrumental color and activity with time