Song form - Chorus with Yeo
In this video...
Yeo talks about how different sections of a song help create its structure or form.
Yeo uses The One That Got Away to show how lyrics can change from section to section.
A 'standard' song form
This diagram shows a common structure used by many songwriters.
A typical form goes:
Songs often start with an instrumental intro and end with an outro — but the main building blocks are the verse, chorus, and bridge.
Use the buttons below to learn what each section does — and how to write your own!
You don't always need an intro
Some songs start with an intro, like On The Way Down by Alex Lahey (video below).
Others jump straight in.
In Yeo’s laid-back track Tired, the vocals begin right away, drawing you in from the very first moment.
using a standard Form
- Listen to On The Way Down by Alex Lahey
- Write down each section of the song — intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro as you listen
- Are there any other sections you notice? Write them down and describe what makes them stand out
Want to use a different structure?
Verse–chorus is the most common form, but there are plenty of ways to mix things up.
- Listen to the examples below.
- As a group, discuss how each one is structured.
- Decide if you want to try one of these forms in your own song!
SONG FORM STRUCTURE
Start with the chorus
Some songs start with a chorus to hook the listener straight away and make the song instantly recognisable.
SONG FORM STRUCTURE
Include a pre-chorus
A pre-chorus is a short section just before the chorus. It often has a simpler texture so the chorus stands out. In this song, the pre-chorus starts with the line “Took a little while…”
SONG FORM STRUCTURE
Borrow from electronic musIc
Electronic music often breaks away from standard pop song structures. Instead of moving quickly to a chorus, it usually builds gradually up to a big moment — like a drop.
