Prechorus

Songwriting Infobox

Song Model
Songwriting
Lyrics - Melody - Harmony - Rhythm - Form
Song Form
Title - Chorus - Verse - Prechorus - Bridge
v • d • e

Modeling is the process of creating useful maps of human abilities
Ability:
"What is [Ability]?"
"What do I want to be able to do?"
I write hit prechoruses.

Belief Template:
Criterion
"When you are writing hit prechoruses, what is important to you?"
"When you are writing hit prechoruses, what are you evaluating?"
Definition
"What is [Criterion]?"
"What do you mean by [Criterion]?"
Evidence
"What do you see, hear, or feel that lets you know there is* [Criterion]?"
*(or "you are" "it is" "you have" etc.)
Enabling Cause-Effect
"What enables someone to [Criterion]?"
"What is necessary for there to be [Criterion]?"
Motivating Cause-Effect
"Why is [Criterion] important?"
"What does [Criterion] lead to or make possible?"
Supporting Beliefs:
Note them if the arise

Primary Strategy:
"What are you usually doing—on the 'inside' and on the 'outside'—to write hit prechoruses?"
"How do you normally go about writing hit prechoruses?"
Lesson 5 Introduction This week, we will discuss another type of song section: the prechorus, also called the transitional bridge, climb, ramp, and other names Objectives recognize a prechorus use a prechorus in your songs develop intensity towards your chorus by using a prechorus

Branch_733.jpg Using a Prechorus A good prechorus fulfills three functions: It connects the verse and the chorus smoothly. It builds intensity into the chorus, which is usually the high point of the song. It contrasts with both the verse and the chorus. The prechorus contrasts with both the verse and the chorus, and it creates momentum towards the chorus. This keeps all the song sections sounding fresh. Man in the Mirror - M. Jackson If This Is It - H. Lewis Heartbreaker - P. Benetar

Branch_739.jpg Building Energy Compared to the verse, a prechorus can use some of the following tools to build more energy: shorter phrases shorter notes higher notes an ascending melodic shape an odd number of phrases If you have more experience in harmony, you can also use chords to build energy towards a chorus: change chords faster begin on a chord other than the I chord end on a chord other than the I chord (particularly the V) The idea is to create more activity or change the balance. The prechorus should leave the listener unsatsified, wanting to hear more. Here is the verse to "Let's Go." Consider how you would describe it, musically.

Branch_748.jpg Hit Songs Billie Jean - M. Jackson How Will I Know - W. Houston I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner

Branch_760.jpg More Tools for Contrast Rhythm: note lengths, phrase lengths, space, and number of phrases Pitch: notes, melodic shapes Developmental Structure: rhyme scheme, motivic development

Branch_764.jpg Working Process To write a prechorus, begin by describing the verse. Then, in the "prechorus" column, write some contrasting values. Use some of the tools we looked at to create more energy. Using the values in your "prechorus" column as a starting point, you might come up with a prechorus such as this to go with your verse.

Branch_772.jpg Summary In this lesson, we learned: how to recognize and create a verse/prechorus pair how to build intensity as the song approaches the chorus

Branch_830.jpg

Secondary Strategy:
"What do you do when that is not working well enough?"
"What do you do when that is not working at all?"
"What do you do when it cannot work?"
Sustaining Emotions:
"What is the background feeling that keeps you engaged in writing hit prechoruses?"
"When you are writing hit prechoruses, what emotion is always operating in the background of your experience to help keep you writing hit prechoruses?"
Signal Emotions:
"What is the background feeling that keeps you engaged in writing hit prechoruses?"
External Behavior:
"What are you doing on the outside that is essential to manifesting writing hit prechoruses?"
Contributing Factors:
Note them if the arise