1. Elements of music
Form

2. Form Form is how a piece of music is organized.
Music occurs in big sections (8 measures long), these sections are what make up the form of a song.
Musicians call these sections the A section, B section, C section, and on.

3. Popular Song form Introduction (intro): Beginning of a song.
Sets the mood, tempo, and introduces the instruments of the song.
Verse
A section
Often – repeated musical accompaniment, different words. Tells the story.
Chorus
B section
Repeated words and musical accompaniment.
“Hook”

4. Popular Song form Bridge Break in the song between the verse/chorus.
C section
Change in the mood of the song.
Might be new music, instrumental solo, new words
Outro
Ending!
Short ending, vamp (repeat over and over), fade into silence.
OPTIONAL:
Pre chorus:
Between the verse/chorus
Pumps the listener up for the chorus, adds excitement.
Repeated music and lyrics.

5. Common Popular Song form
Introduction
Verse 1 A
(Pre-Chorus) optional
Chorus B
Verse A
(Pre-chorus) optional
Chorus B
Interlude/Bridge C
Chorus B
Outro

6. Superstition 1. Introduction – Drums, keyboard, guitar, bass
2. Verse 1: “very superstitious” – Stevie enters with the first vocal verse.
3. Chorus: “When you believe in things you don’t understand. . .”
- Change in mood, timbre of the instruments. Repetition of the words and music.
4. Verse 2: “Very superstitious, wash your face and hands. . .”
5. Chorus: “When you believe in things you don’t understand ”
6. Bridge: short musical interlude played by the full band.
7. Verse 3: “Very superstitious, nothing more to say . . .”
8. Chorus: “When you believe in things you don’t understand ”
9. Outro: Full band and horns vamp until the ending fades.

7. Creedance Clearwater Revival “Proud Mary”
1. Introduction: Full band
2. Verse 1: “Left a good job in the city. . .” - Full band and vocals, music will repeat. Different words will be sung each verse.
3. Chorus: “Big wheels keep on turnin’. . .” – Full band, music will repeat and words will repeat.
4. Verse 2: “Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis. .”
5. Chorus: “Big wheels keep on turnin’. . .”
6. Bridge: Instrumental, guitar solo
7. Chorus: “Rollin’ on the river. . .”
8. Verse 3: “If you come down to the river. . .”
9. Chorus: “Big wheels keep on turnin’ . . .”

8. Michael Jackson – “Thriller”
1. Introduction – bass, drums, guitar, piano 2. Verse 3. Chorus 4. Verse 5. Chorus 6. Bridge 7. Verse 8. Chorus 9. Outro

9. “Let it Go”
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10. ABA Form/AABA Form Three part song form 1. A section
2. B section (different music)
3. A section
Example: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
A A B A form
“Flintstones”
Flintstones Theme

11. 12 Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – W.A.Mozart
A A B A song form A B Beginning of 12 variations on the melody of this French folk song. Mozart changed the rhythm, added pitch notes, and changed the tempo to vary this famous melody.

12. Flintstones
A section – “Flintstones, meet the Flintstones” A section – “From the town of bedrock” B section – “Let’s ride with the family down the street . . “ A section – “When you’re with the Flintstones “

13. Take the “A” Train – Duke Ellington
AABA form
Trumpet solos over the AABA form.
Can you hear the changes in the sections?