Tuesday,  January 30th, 2024. 

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Unda The Hat is now doing affiliate marketing for Amazon. “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” We feature musical equipment, OG music band Tees & merch, games, and books. This week's Amazon feature is Hayden Pedigo

Song Structure, what’s that all about? - Let’s Geaux -

According to MasterClass writers of the songwriters 1 on 1, scientists recently located a “music center” in our brain, which makes us react to music in much the same way we react to other pleasure-inducing stimuli. Songs make us feel through rhythm and melody, but the reason they stay with us and we remember them is based on familiar patterns that make up the song structure. 

Song structure refers to how a song is organized, using a combination of different sections. A typical song structure includes a verse, chorus, and bridge in the following arrangement: intro, verse — chorus — verse — chorus —bridge — chorus — outro. This is known as an ABABCB structure, where A is the verse, B is the chorus and C is the bridge. Listen to what popular country songwriter Marty Dobbs says about this type of structure. I really like what he says about those of you who choose not to write in a manner that most popular songs are written in, “you choose to write yourself out of the game.” And trust me you don’t want to do that. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but hey let’s play to the law of averages and play to win, ya dig?

Hit songs and pop songs tend to follow the standard structure while jazz jam bands and experimental musicians might diverge from the formula. If a song sounds familiar to us when we hear it for the first time, it’s because our ears have been trained to recognize the most commonly used song structures. But that’s not to say there isn’t value in variation as well.

Song structure refers to the arrangement and organization of the various sections of a song. It encompasses the different parts of the song and how they are arranged to create a cohesive and impactful listening experience.

The structure of a song typically includes the following elements:

1. Introduction: The introduction sets the mood and tone for the song. It's usually a short section that establishes the main theme or musical idea.
2. Verse: The verse provides the narrative or storytelling element of the song. It typically consists of lyrics that convey a message or tell a story. Verses are often repeated throughout the song.
3. Chorus: The chorus is the catchy, memorable part of the song. It's usually repeated multiple times and serves to reinforce the main message or theme.
4. Bridge: The bridge is a contrasting section that provides a break from the verse-chorus structure. It often introduces new musical ideas or lyrics and can serve to build tension or provide a resolution.
5. Outro: The outro is the concluding section of the song. It usually wraps up the musical and lyrical ideas presented throughout the song and brings it to a satisfying end.

Now when it comes to hip hop it relies on a 16-bar verse form followed by a chorus/hook section. Often there are three verse sections with each one followed by a chorus or hook section. Sometimes the third verse is replaced with a bridge, a section with different chords or a change up  in the rap style or content. The hook/chorus provides an anchor for the listener while the verses tell the story, paint a picture, or express the personality of the rapper. But truth is a lot of rappers don’t make it, and Drew Morisey, Founder and CEO of How To Rap broke it down and guess what he said….well you know what we’re talking about.

These elements can be arranged in various ways to create different song structures. Some common song structures include:

• Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus-Outro: This is a classic verse-chorus structure with a bridge section added to provide contrast and build tension.
• Verse-Chorus-Chorus-Verse-Bridge-Chorus-Outro: This structure emphasizes the chorus and creates a sense of momentum and energy.
• Verse-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Verse-Chorus-Outro: This structure uses multiple verses to tell a story or develop a theme before reaching the chorus.
• Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus-Outro: This structure omits the second verse and goes directly from the first chorus to the bridge, creating a more concise and focused song.

The structure of a song plays a crucial role in shaping its overall impact and appeal. It helps to create a sense of coherence, balance, and emotional resonance. A well-crafted song structure can put you on the top of the song call list, get you a publising deal, get you that hit song you’ve been dreaming of and enhance your listener's experience. Remember when you are first starting out, you want to go with the flow instead of going against the grain. Leave  a lasting impression on your fans and followers, trust me you will be glad you did.

This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is - Hayden Pedigo.

Hayden, is an American avant-garde musician, politician, performance artist, and model. Much of his work has been informed and inspired by his upbringing and residence in the Panhandle of Texas.

Click on the name link, scroll down to the picture, and then click, and support. For more information on this or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. If you are an Indie artist and want to be featured, hit me up. See you next week!!