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Song arrangement

Pop/EDM Arrangement

A typical Pop Arrangement has Intro, Verses, Chorus, Bridge, Refrain, and Outro. There are different radiation of it, but that is the basics.

Common Structures for a song is as followed:

  • Intro (4 Bars)

  • 1.Verse (8 -16 Bars) + Pre-Chorus (Optional)

  • Chorus (8 - 16 Bars)

  • 2.Verse (8 - 16 Bars) + Pre-Chorus (Optional)

  • Chorus (8-16 Bars)

  • Outro (4 Bars)

Bars are 4 beats or beats. So 4 bars in Renardo means 16 counted as beats.

Further structures, whereas A is Verse, B is Chorus, C is Bridge:

ABABCA >> Verse / Chorus / Verse / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus AABA >> Verse / Verse / Bridge / Verse ABAB >> Verse / Chorus / Verse / Chorus (simplified version of the ABABCB) AAA >> Verse / Verse / Verse

The following is an example of a song structure in common electronic music:

IntroBreakBuildupDropBreakBuildupDropOutro
16 Bars16 Bars4/8/16 Bars16 Bars16 Bars4/8/16 Bars16 Bars16 Bars

Intro

  • The Intro is pretty much anything you want it to be.
  • Many songs start with just the melody that is rising up.
  • You can even create a melodic question that is answered by the rest of the song or something of the sort.
  • The important thing is to not stay too long at the Intro and make it tie in quickly.

Break/Bridge

  • Less loud, less bass heavy, less instruments.
  • This is used to break up what the listener has paid attention to. In electronic music, you usually take out the drums and add a rising sound to the next part.
  • A Bridge/Break can be more powerful by adding new instruments or changing the key
  • Try to keep this at 8 measures or less.
  • The Bridge is a departure from what we’ve heard in a song, previously.
  • This goes for both the lyrics and the music.
  • Lyrically it’s an opportunity for a new perspective.
  • Musically, it’s a chance to offer the listener something they haven’t heard before to keep the song interesting.

Buildup

  • Goes usually from Break to Drop, can be even silence.
  • It creates an emotional tension in the listener, which is then dissolved in the Drop.

Drop

  • Loudest, most fun to listen to.
  • The moment in a dance track when tension is released and the beat kicks in. This releases an enormous energy during a song’s progression.
  • After the momentum Buildup, the pitch rising, the tension mounting, bigger, louder, until suddenly — the Drop.

Riser

  • A Riser is just like a break except that it is arpeggiate or having some sort of buildup that is released with the next section coming in.
  • Usually no beat and last 8 measures or 16.
  • When the next part comes in, it will have a lot more energy and should be the climax of the piece.

Outro

  • This is used to resolve the song and come in for a smooth landing.
  • Some song’s don’t have an Outro and others have a long Outro.
  • You can also add a final sense by adding a Coda, or strong cadence at the end of your track.