Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Are you stuck on how to begin writing your song? Have you been staring at a blank page and need help with structuring your song? You’ve come to the right place! Read on to learn more about 7 songwriting templates to get your ideas flowing.
In the post, Learn the Elements of Songwriting Construction, we learned about the different parts that make up a song. Today we’ll explore songwriting templates that help you to put the different parts together.
Listen to the radio and you’ll find almost as many ways to organize a song as you have songwriters. Hence this post will look at 7 of the most common variations.
Songwriting Template #1: AAA
AAA form has been around a long time. This songwriting template has been used in many styles of music, most notably hymns and in folk music. Basically, in AAA you keep repeating the verse.
Since the music stays the same for each verse, you need to have a really compelling story to make this songwriting template work. The title line goes at the beginning or the end of the verse.
Click here to view the lyrics for the song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald Video
Songwriting Template #2: AABA
AABA, or 32 bar form, originated with showtunes (by way of opera), where you can still find it being used. It has:
Verse 1
Verse 2
Bridge
Verse 3
While not as common today, the AABA songwriting template is useful for stories that shouldn’t be constantly interrupted by a chorus. In some songs the bridge and verse 3 will be repeated. Like with AAA, the title line goes at the beginning or the end of the verse.
Yesterday Video
Songwriting Template #3: Verse/Chorus - Starting with the Verse
Johnny B. Goode Video
Songwriting Template #4: Verse/Chorus - Starting with a Double Verse
This variation on the verse/chorus songwriting template has the advantage of letting you further develop the verse before going into the chorus. Double verses work well when you need to tell more of your story to set up the chorus.
Come as You Are Video
Songwriting Template #5: Chorus/Verse - Starting with the Chorus
Starting with the chorus has the advantage of introducing the title and the hook at the beginning of the song. It helps you capture your listener’s attention right away. You’ll find this songwriting template useful for writing rock or pop music.
Alternately, the Beatles did a variation of the chorus/verse template in several of their songs. Instead of the whole chorus, they put just the title line into the intro as a hook.
Click here to view the lyrics for the song Can’t Buy Me Love.
Can't Buy Me Love Video
Songwriting Template #6: Verse/Pre-chorus/Chorus
The pre-chorus variation on the basic verse/chorus songwriting template allows you to build tension and excitement going into the chorus. You’ll find it good for writing pop and rock anthems.
Fireworks Video
Songwriting Template #7: Verse/Chorus/Bridge
One big drawback to the verse/chorus songwriting template discussed above centers on the simplicity of the format. In other words, the typical song will go:
Verse 1
Chorus
Verse 2
Chorus
Verse 3
Chorus
According to Ralph Murphy, the last verse can sometimes make the song bog down. When people complain about a song being too long, the third verse is often to blame.
However, if you insert a bridge in place of (or in addition to) the last verse, it creates contrast, which helps keep your listener’s attention. The verse/chorus/bridge songwriting template gets used a lot in country music, but you can find it in many song styles.
Click here to view the lyrics for the song (Sitting on) The Dock of the Bay.
(Sitting on) The Dock of the Bay Video
Conclusion
As we’ve already seen, these basic songwriting templates can have many variations. In addition, any of the above templates can have either an intro or an outro, or both. Now that you know what to listen for, check out your favorite songs to get more ideas for song structure. Have fun writing!
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
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