Song Form
Song form refers to dividing a song up into different musical sections
With Song form, we are dividing a song up into larger sections that differ musically in some way
These musical Differences could be things like (but not limited to) :
Different instrumentation, different lyrics, Different Notes in the Melody, Different Chord progression , etc.
We can always HEAR and audible difference in sections of a form.
Section 1 sounds different than Section 2
There will often be repeated sections of songs (think of the chorus of a song) that sound the same both musically and lyrically - In many ways song form is a play between repeated material and new material
This goes back to the concept (think rhythm) where we like certain things in song to stay consistent and be repeated , but too much repetition would be boring
With Song form, we are dividing a song up into larger sections that differ musically in some way
These musical Differences could be things like (but not limited to) :
Different instrumentation, different lyrics, Different Notes in the Melody, Different Chord progression , etc.
We can always HEAR and audible difference in sections of a form.
Section 1 sounds different than Section 2
There will often be repeated sections of songs (think of the chorus of a song) that sound the same both musically and lyrically - In many ways song form is a play between repeated material and new material
This goes back to the concept (think rhythm) where we like certain things in song to stay consistent and be repeated , but too much repetition would be boring
Recognizing Different Sections
The intro is the easiest section to identify. It is always at the beginning of a piece and is always different from the rest of the piece (many times it is Instrumental) - Think about the Adelle tune and John Legend tune we have used for examples
The intro is there to set the mood, but the beginning of the song is the only place we hear it - it doesn't repeat back again .
When we get into the middle of a song where we are switching back and forth between sections it can be more difficult.
Remember, we are listening for both REPETITION , and things that are DIFFERENT Musically and Lyrically between the different sections.
Questions we want to ask ourselves while listening :
1. Have I heard these Lyrics before in the song
2. Have I heard the notes in the melody before in the song
Lets start with a song we all know....
The intro is there to set the mood, but the beginning of the song is the only place we hear it - it doesn't repeat back again .
When we get into the middle of a song where we are switching back and forth between sections it can be more difficult.
Remember, we are listening for both REPETITION , and things that are DIFFERENT Musically and Lyrically between the different sections.
Questions we want to ask ourselves while listening :
1. Have I heard these Lyrics before in the song
2. Have I heard the notes in the melody before in the song
Lets start with a song we all know....
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SECTION 2 : 8 BARS REPEATED
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Notice how the song is divided EVENLY into 8 Bar sections!!
Four Sections of 8 - a totally of 32 bars (32 bar song form is common)
It is most common to see a song divided into even sections - If you heard a song with all 7 and 5 bar sections your ear would catch it immediately!
We get relatively little repletion in this song - with the exception of the first 8 bars repeated musically
Another 32 Bar song....
Four Sections of 8 - a totally of 32 bars (32 bar song form is common)
It is most common to see a song divided into even sections - If you heard a song with all 7 and 5 bar sections your ear would catch it immediately!
We get relatively little repletion in this song - with the exception of the first 8 bars repeated musically
Another 32 Bar song....
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This song is Also divided in to 4 8 bar sections, but we get more repetition
Section 1 : "I See Trees...." - 8 bars Sections 2 : "I See Skies...." 8 Bars repeated Section 3: 'The Colors" 8 Bars new material Section 4: " I Hear Babies " 8 bars fro first 2 section We see much more repetition i this than the Star Spangled Banner - we really only get 2 distinct sections with one of them repeating 3 times! |
8 Bars 'A' Section - Repeat 8 Bars 'A' Section - New 'B' Section - Repeat 8 Bars 'A' Section
Known Simply as :
AABA
Sometimes we use letters to signify the different sections
For example - for our garage band project last class - we had an intro then melody - 2 different sections
this would be : AB
Forms with only 2 parts are called BINARY form
Known Simply as :
AABA
Sometimes we use letters to signify the different sections
For example - for our garage band project last class - we had an intro then melody - 2 different sections
this would be : AB
Forms with only 2 parts are called BINARY form
Hymns are a great example of songs with one musical verse with multiple sets of lyrics
Songs that only consist of one musical section with many sets of lyrics over it are called STROPHIC
Songs that only consist of one musical section with many sets of lyrics over it are called STROPHIC
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Jesus Christ is Risen
2. repeat same 4 Bars 3. 4 Bars New material 4. repeat opening 4 Bars
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Strophic Form can be seen in many Folk Songs....
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Strophic form in Pop Music.....
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Strophic Form Emphasizes REPETITION!!
Hymns are meant to be easy to sing for a congregation of people with varying musical skill..... Folk songs are meant to be easy to sing for children and to teach my rote..
These would be really easy to whistle along to because there is only one section repeated many times over (with different words)
AAAA
Remember that the length of sections can be different depending on the song (micheal row your boat had very short sections, while walk the line was longer), Strophic simply specifies that the one section is repeated over and over
Hymns are meant to be easy to sing for a congregation of people with varying musical skill..... Folk songs are meant to be easy to sing for children and to teach my rote..
These would be really easy to whistle along to because there is only one section repeated many times over (with different words)
AAAA
Remember that the length of sections can be different depending on the song (micheal row your boat had very short sections, while walk the line was longer), Strophic simply specifies that the one section is repeated over and over
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Daft punk Tune
Sometimes there are less sections / less repetition in forms. Section 1 : Instrumental Intro - 00:00 - 1:15 No Lyrics, Instruments only, repetition in music Section 2 : 2 Chorus "It might not be the right..." 1:15 - 1:55 We will call this the chorus because it has the title in the lyrics ends with "some kind of secret I will share" Section 3 : Verse " I need you more " 1:55 - 2:15 New Lyrics New melody music Section 4 : Instrumental Outro 2:15 - End Similar music / instrumentation to intro |
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In Classical Music
Much of classical music is small sections of melody that recur and are repeated/tweaked in different way
SONATA ALLEGRO FORM
***** This is much harder to hear because we can't simply listen for different Lyrics !! All the changes that occur will be musical changes******
In Classical Music we have specific names for the sections:
Exposition (This section gets repeated 2x)
Development
Recapitulation (recap)
Coda
Exposition (This section gets repeated 2x)
Development
Recapitulation (recap)
Coda
Song Form in Popular Music
Pop Music is Largely Dominated by Verse / Chorus form
These are what we call the sections in popular music instead of Exposition Recap etc.
These are what we call the sections in popular music instead of Exposition Recap etc.
Verse : Same notes in the melody with Different Lyrics
Chorus : Repeated Notes / Repeated lyrics we hear recur throughout the song
Sometimes we get a Bridge:
Bridge : New material both lyrically and musically (generally in the middle)
Chorus : Repeated Notes / Repeated lyrics we hear recur throughout the song
Sometimes we get a Bridge:
Bridge : New material both lyrically and musically (generally in the middle)
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Rollin in the Deep
Intro : 00:00 - 00:04 Verse 1: 00:04 - 0:58 Chorus : 0:58 - 1:15 Verse 2 : 1:15 - 1:52 Chorus : 1:52 - 2:30 Verse 3: 2:30-3:05 Chorus : 3:05 - End This is an example of a Binary form (because there are only 2 main sections) |
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More on Song Form
Things we are listening for in different sections:
Different Words, Different Music, Different Instrumentation
Different Words, Different Music, Different Instrumentation
Let's see if we can point out the different sections in these songs
Pay attention to the TIME and write down a time stamp every time we hear new material or a change in section
Pay attention to the TIME and write down a time stamp every time we hear new material or a change in section
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