The Anatomy Of A Song

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  • čas přidán 1. 12. 2016
  • What's a verse? Ok, it's a silly question, but... well, is it, though? As theorists, it's important to understand not just the form of something, but also its function, and that goes for song structure too. Why do we use verses? What's the point of a chorus? When should we use a bridge? What roles do they serve, and how do they help us make better art? It's a surprisingly difficult question to answer, but hey, we're gonna try.
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Komentáře • 155

  • @oravlaful
    @oravlaful Před 7 lety +191

    best thing i've done in the last week was finding your channel

  • @mortzcent797
    @mortzcent797 Před 7 lety +484

    More song structure please.

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 7 lety +68

      Will do! It's been on our list for a long time, but we kept getting distracted by other ideas. Glad we finally got a chance to put this one together, and I'm definitely planning to cover some other types of sections soon! (Although I don't know how soon, I can't promise I won't get distracted again...)

    • @MisterAppleEsq
      @MisterAppleEsq Před 6 lety +17

      Hasn't happened yet.

    • @hilariofernandes5299
      @hilariofernandes5299 Před 5 lety +5

      oof

    • @fardinfahim3478
      @fardinfahim3478 Před 4 lety +7

      12tone any time now....

    • @gerardmasmitjavalle5864
      @gerardmasmitjavalle5864 Před 4 lety +4

      waiting for this!!

  • @educostanzo
    @educostanzo Před 7 lety +141

    It would be very interesting to see a deeper analysis of the other elements you've mentioned, intros, outros, breakdowns, interludes and so. It's those things you kinda know what they are but definitions sometimes give you a wider perspective. Thanks for this one!

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 7 lety +19

      Thanks! Yeah, that's been sitting on my list for a while but I keep getting distracted by other things. I'll try to get to it soon, though!

    • @ziomara873
      @ziomara873 Před 3 lety +1

      0

    • @eduardoktg8683
      @eduardoktg8683 Před 2 lety

      did he do it yet?

    • @5adb0i
      @5adb0i Před 10 měsíci +2

      @@12tone FOLLOWUP WHEN ?????
      Absolutely loved this, I think you should make a video for each type of section:
      Narrative/Verse
      Hook (including prechorus and post chorus)
      Bridges/Middle 8s/Solos/Breakdown/etc
      Intro/Outro/anything else not covered by the rest?
      Feel like it could be a nice short playlist on ya channel for beginning musicians/supplemental material for ppl formally studying theory

  • @LimeGreenTeknii
    @LimeGreenTeknii Před 7 lety +23

    My favorite way of shaking up a verse is making it sound like a bridge at the very beginning of it.
    For example, in Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress Me Much," the verse that starts out with "You're one of those guys who likes to shine his machine..." begins with a different melody and chord structure, and if you didn't listen to the next bar or so, you could've easily mislabeled the section as a bridge.

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 7 lety +6

      Huh, neat! I hadn't really listened closely to that song before, but yeah, I see what you mean. That's really interesting, thanks!

    • @LimeGreenTeknii
      @LimeGreenTeknii Před 7 lety +2

      Actually, I messed up. The chords *are* the same, but the way they're played certainly are different. The guitar gets really quiet, the bass completely drops out, and the only thing played on the drums is the cowbell. But yeah, the the melody and backup vocal harmony are different.

    • @richvanek1363
      @richvanek1363 Před 4 lety +2

      @@LimeGreenTeknii
      MORE COW BELL!🐄🔔

  • @ikemarkle6057
    @ikemarkle6057 Před 2 lety +8

    Also, to make the final chorus more interesting is to start off slow then start it back up again with all the elements it had before or even add to it with backup voice overs. An example of this kind of structure is What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.

  • @TheBoglodite
    @TheBoglodite Před 5 lety +41

    Did he ever make a second one? This is super interesting.

  • @breadmoneyarchival
    @breadmoneyarchival Před 7 lety +41

    You should make a video on writing chord progressions for jazz and pop music. Maybe make a follow up video on writing chord progressions for classical music.

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 7 lety +8

      Thanks, I'll add those to our list!

  • @IR088Y
    @IR088Y Před 4 lety +10

    Thank you this video taught me about stuff I didn't even know of, only problem is it flies by like a jet on cocaine I have to keep scrolling back to catch what hes saying

  • @mimidhof2179
    @mimidhof2179 Před 5 lety +1

    Waouw man so cool to find such an interesting and complete content about song structure. Thank you mate.

  • @wavediesel
    @wavediesel Před 4 lety +3

    Thank you for the breakdown.

  • @JosephBanks20
    @JosephBanks20 Před rokem

    Wow I've never thought too deep into the roles the different parts of a song play. This video is so informative, i'm really glad I found it!

  • @haha-px5xp
    @haha-px5xp Před rokem +1

    This is GOLD!!!

  • @bashfullfill7423
    @bashfullfill7423 Před 3 lety

    I appreciate your way of using your words in your video to describe your own informative video is indeed a bridge to yet another video.

  • @prod.kaycey7437
    @prod.kaycey7437 Před 3 lety

    Amazing video!!!! Very understanding and informational!!!

  • @gabinastudio1404
    @gabinastudio1404 Před 6 lety +1

    i really like this fast explaining meaningful videos

  • @timgaul2256
    @timgaul2256 Před rokem +1

    More deep dives on song structure would be great! I didn’t see that in 12 Tone on YT or Nebula. A few ideas: What a bridge does and how it evolved; the history and function of key changes in pop music and which key changes work. Keep’em comin’!

  • @andrewtatesbugatti3135
    @andrewtatesbugatti3135 Před 2 lety +24

    I thought I was the only person who needed to learn this and I was super embarrassed because literally every one I know, knows every single part of a song
    It's refreshing to know I'm not alone

    • @jaydenrogers8709
      @jaydenrogers8709 Před 2 lety +5

      Theres no shame in learning, only in staying ignorant. I dont know jack about song structure too tho lol

  • @electricmovement0779
    @electricmovement0779 Před rokem

    Great explanation thank you so much

  • @-DILLIGAF
    @-DILLIGAF Před 2 lety

    Nice! Fun and easy to follow. Loved the art.

  • @christianfrades2761
    @christianfrades2761 Před 4 lety +1

    Just found your channel, thank you very much!

  • @fen9328
    @fen9328 Před rokem

    Great video. Big thanks!!

  • @Wyattporter
    @Wyattporter Před 3 lety +3

    I’ve been thinking a lot lately about if there’s other, undiscovered song structure techniques I could play with. I think what we have encompasses all the possibilities.

  • @mimidhof2179
    @mimidhof2179 Před 3 lety

    You Rock!!!👍I've shared it with as many songwriter I know. This was excellent thank you.

  • @djjoeykmusic
    @djjoeykmusic Před 2 lety

    Great video
    Thank you so much!

  • @henrymagill8325
    @henrymagill8325 Před rokem +1

    thanks man 🙏

  • @superegobeats
    @superegobeats Před měsícem

    Informative and quick.. also, I just have to say, it's a trip seeing your handwriting look exactly like mine!

  • @tonyslewis
    @tonyslewis Před 7 lety +8

    love your videos too much, so much love, shared them with all of my friends who are in to music :) any chance of something on live arrangement of pop/r&b tracks? It's a style I love but I have very little idea of how to pull it off.... reharm is confusing :(

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 7 lety +3

      Thanks! We've been working on a script about jazz reharmonization, but I hadn't thought to do one on pop/R&B. I'll add it to the list!

  • @dejesusrussell
    @dejesusrussell Před 6 lety +55

    More about song structure, please! Also, could you break down some theory behind Radiohead?

  • @kjtheproof5328
    @kjtheproof5328 Před 3 lety

    Thank you!!!

  • @JoseGabriel-dd2up
    @JoseGabriel-dd2up Před 9 měsíci

    Thank you for part 1. Could you please do a follow up on interlude, turn around, etc?

  • @ruvimusics7442
    @ruvimusics7442 Před 3 lety

    dude-YOUR A LIFE SAVIOR!!! like i searched millions of videos only to know about this lil things u jus explained,LITERALLY,every single videos ar like "okay so..write ur chorus and stuffs and blablabla..." tysmmmmmmmmmm for this video. im 12,and im trying to write a song.i did it tho,but idk how to make it AN ACTUALLY ACTUAL SONG with instrumentals an stuffs

  • @william5159
    @william5159 Před 4 lety

    Brilliant!

  • @antonybonneto3446
    @antonybonneto3446 Před 5 lety

    love it ! am in looooove with your cha-nnel

  • @muyuhe603
    @muyuhe603 Před 5 lety

    An amazing channel.

  • @amrendrakumar3025
    @amrendrakumar3025 Před 3 lety

    Very nice 👍 and interesting also.
    Thanks dear.

  • @niinniv7798
    @niinniv7798 Před 4 lety

    amazing video

  • @ivywahiti
    @ivywahiti Před 19 dny

    Omg this is amazing

  • @Scott79777
    @Scott79777 Před 2 lety

    Now that's food for thought !!!

  • @QuikVidGuy
    @QuikVidGuy Před 6 lety +9

    When I get some cash I'm gonna drop some in your patreon so I can request a video on "what is progressive rock?" and I'm kinda hoping I can hear about the basic overall nature or one single detail or a super-long-by-modern-standards song (the most obvious one I can think of being 2112, though i don't know what would be best for a lesson)

  • @simplecliche5833
    @simplecliche5833 Před 2 lety +1

    If anyone is having trouble following what he saying you can reduce the speed of the playback to 0.75 to follow a bit easier

  • @slg_sleepy
    @slg_sleepy Před 10 měsíci

    this reminds me of don hertzfeld’s narration of Its such a beautiful day. love your narration

  • @user-ty1qw3yn9k
    @user-ty1qw3yn9k Před 3 lety +3

    i wish someone taught me song structures it’s hard learning myself

  • @SKaYy94LmAo
    @SKaYy94LmAo Před 7 lety +6

    So like, when a song's final chorus (presumably after a bridge) changes pitch/key, what is that technique called?

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 7 lety +4

      Good question! Generally, changing keys is called modulation. In the specific instance of changing for the last chorus, you usually use what's called a direct modulation (Or, less formally, a truck driver's key change.) where you don't prepare it, you just jump up suddenly to inject a little extra energy.

    • @SKaYy94LmAo
      @SKaYy94LmAo Před 7 lety +1

      Very informative, thank you :)

  • @kyerogers7838
    @kyerogers7838 Před 3 lety

    Thanks I'm trying to write my first song on guitar and wanted to know about structure

  • @themichaelcom
    @themichaelcom Před 7 lety

    LOVE IT

  • @alanissexy99
    @alanissexy99 Před 4 lety

    This video was gas ⛽

  • @senjecko
    @senjecko Před 3 lety

    This is pretty esoteric

  • @timeandattention3945
    @timeandattention3945 Před 3 lety +1

    I am actually using all these info to write a compelling book 😊

  • @dallasprice4680
    @dallasprice4680 Před 4 lety

    You the man

  • @timetravlr625
    @timetravlr625 Před 5 lety

    Musical ! Magical

  • @CHUNGAandNANOOK
    @CHUNGAandNANOOK Před 7 lety +6

    Damn your videos are good

  • @senza4591
    @senza4591 Před 4 lety

    Thank

  • @nutbunny10
    @nutbunny10 Před 4 lety +2

    Please tell me what a breakdown is.
    I came across the concept of metal music breakdowns but did not understand what makes a breakdown a breakdown.
    I have been searching for days and nobody has explained to me what a breakdown is.
    It sounds like you might know.
    Help please...

    • @xisotopex
      @xisotopex Před 3 lety +1

      its analogous to a bridge

  • @Daddy53751
    @Daddy53751 Před 9 měsíci

    Shows you how much you can get away with just by feel.
    My mother was a touring musician, so instead of playing little league and such like most kids, I had to learn to play music.
    (Against my will, early on)
    Drums, bass and guitar, were my early childhood, and I sure wish I’d payed closer attention.
    Been a musician for over 50 years now, and just tuning into this video to learn song structure!🤣

  • @PdUnique
    @PdUnique Před 4 lety

    Can you make the parts of music like intro, build-up, drop and so on

  • @ahmadmusle7
    @ahmadmusle7 Před 4 lety

    Very concise, and let's us know that there a bunch of other things not covered

  • @savvasgavriilidis5393
    @savvasgavriilidis5393 Před 4 lety +6

    Thanks
    This actually helped me with making better songs in music maker jam.
    Btw my name is SsG

  • @metamentality9818
    @metamentality9818 Před rokem

    subbed

  • @lukeroberts3464
    @lukeroberts3464 Před 2 lety

    Song structure is cool 😎.

  • @nicostruppich
    @nicostruppich Před 9 měsíci

    Can u do an anatomy of the Cure’s Pictures of You ? Thank u and nice video

  • @kaganrichard7850
    @kaganrichard7850 Před 2 lety

    What would you call the part of "Black" by Pearl Jam where he sings "I know you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star..."? Could it still be considered a bridge even though it's the last words of the song?

  • @patrickfitzgerald9659
    @patrickfitzgerald9659 Před 3 lety

    I did a search for “elements song composition” in regard marketing and promotional strategy specifically and I clicked on this one first. You explained it in exactly the way I was interested in hearing about it, the visuals were extremely helpful, and I very much appreciate your catering to those of us with ‘short attention span theater’ disorder, lol.
    Bravo 👏
    and clicked on your video first

  • @cemoguz2786
    @cemoguz2786 Před 3 lety

    I wrote dissection analize and this video comes out after 3 4 organ dissection videos but I am just looking for some analizing black metal band dissection because. It is fucking awesome where dead angels lie.

  • @lukeroberts3464
    @lukeroberts3464 Před rokem

    What about breakdown and break intro and outro?

  • @lukeroberts3464
    @lukeroberts3464 Před rokem

    I agree that the chorus is the abstract version of the story and while the verse is telling the actual story which verse 2 you continue the story and verse 1 you have the beginning of the story and while chorus is the abstract of the story.

  • @lukeroberts3464
    @lukeroberts3464 Před rokem

    What does abstract mean?

  • @guilherme6818
    @guilherme6818 Před 3 lety +1

    It took me like 2 minutes to realize you were not writing an actual song in the background

  • @jayaflower
    @jayaflower Před 4 lety

    your channel is way too underated...

  • @isabellapoma2976
    @isabellapoma2976 Před 3 lety

    I kept thinking about Queen watching this with Bohemian Rhapsody playing in the background.
    Roger: Psh amateurs.
    Brian: Maybe we should try that sometime.
    John: You're kidding right?
    Freddie: That's cute darling.

  • @wiltree6504
    @wiltree6504 Před 2 lety +1

    Well done. Now I can skip that expensive song writing school.

  • @xtianhdz
    @xtianhdz Před 7 lety +1

    hi...very interesting videos...but...is there any order?

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 7 lety

      Thanks! Not really, no. We mostly just talk about whatever we find interesting that week. We do have a series called Building Blocks, though, which looks at music theory from the bottom up: czcams.com/play/PLMvVESrbjBWplAcg3pG0TesncGT7qvO06.html

  • @tarynlau
    @tarynlau Před 4 lety +1

    can you compare this to a way a kpop song is written? there seems to be differences, but I can't pinpoint what or why.

  • @alternativeroute
    @alternativeroute Před 6 lety +2

    Is a bridge and a middle eight the same thing?

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 6 lety

      Sort of. In my experience, "Middle 8" generally refers specifically to the bridge of a 32-bar AABA form, where the bridge serves a slightly different purpose than it does in more pop-oriented forms, but I've heard it used outside that context as well.

  • @ILoveJah
    @ILoveJah Před 3 lety

    So a common failure is to write one verse, copying it and than change the lyrics... but where is it copied or not variable if I change the lyrics?

  • @nicolevichan
    @nicolevichan Před rokem

    este canal es raro, a veces es basura pretenciosa, a veces es util

  • @TorqueBow
    @TorqueBow Před 6 lety +1

    This is basically the typical pop, rock, or metal song. There are artists that completely variate the song structures they use, per song. Rock bands like Time, The Valuator, Good Tiger, and Voices From The Fuselage do this. Metal bands like The Contortionist, Periphery, Dream Theater, and Chelsea Grin do this, as well. I think an interesting video would be the theory of unconventional or super weird song structures. Awesome video.

    • @12tone
      @12tone  Před 6 lety +1

      True! This was a look at conventions, but of course those conventions are defined by popular styles and certainly aren't written in stone or anything. If I'd made this video in the Jazz age, for instance, it would've been all about the repeating 32-bar form and its sections, which are pretty different from modern techniques. I'll definitely look into some more unconventional structures, though!

  • @andeleon6838
    @andeleon6838 Před 3 lety +1

    Your visuals got me confused, dunno where to look at 😵

  • @billili5503
    @billili5503 Před 3 lety

    Is this a common way other people take notes? Cause this is the best way I take notes in class lol

  • @jacobisrael661
    @jacobisrael661 Před 4 lety +2

    I’m still confused

  • @Lowered_Gadh
    @Lowered_Gadh Před 6 měsíci

    how about REFRAIN & CODA?

    • @beenaplumber8379
      @beenaplumber8379 Před 8 dny

      Refrain: A repeated phrase, might serve as chorus, might be a familiar anchor the song returns to.
      Coda: End section of the song - the wrap-up. It's music that tells the listener we're ending this thing. That's how I learned it.

  • @deathblackout1
    @deathblackout1 Před 3 lety +1

    O he lefff handed

  • @massana7771
    @massana7771 Před 3 lety

    profe un video en spanish

  • @alyax9462
    @alyax9462 Před 4 měsíci

    hmmm

  • @DoubleE12
    @DoubleE12 Před 3 lety +1

    :)

  • @RodrickColbert
    @RodrickColbert Před 3 lety

    To valid everything mentioned here, I always like to point to the popular 70's disco song - Get off by foxxy - czcams.com/video/mB1hr_1_f8o/video.html.

  • @made0v0pium
    @made0v0pium Před 8 měsíci

    Hmm

  • @miguelservetus9534
    @miguelservetus9534 Před 2 lety

    Examples would help.

  • @alcovelaptop8251
    @alcovelaptop8251 Před 2 lety

    what animal is this??? 0:53

  • @deep7nshu
    @deep7nshu Před 2 lety

    Mr. Parker?
    - T. S.

  • @FransLebin
    @FransLebin Před 3 lety +12

    you hold a pen really weird, and I'm not talking about being lefty

    • @apricity_cafe9633
      @apricity_cafe9633 Před 3 lety +1

      I hold it like the same way. People look at me weirdly when I write ;/

  • @ILoveJah
    @ILoveJah Před 3 lety

    I don't really get the point from verses

  • @yoshevhaaretz7094
    @yoshevhaaretz7094 Před 6 lety

    Why the jelly bears?

  • @derpy9800
    @derpy9800 Před 2 lety +1

    So does this confirm Keith Richards is inimitable?

  • @NayHero
    @NayHero Před 3 lety +1

    big bad stinky

  • @plantcat6036
    @plantcat6036 Před 3 lety

    "listeners are getting sick of your chorus and verses" on the contrary I often dislike some pop bridges because they break the theme or flow of the song for me!

  • @jacobisrael661
    @jacobisrael661 Před 4 lety

    Is there a songwriting for dummies out there?

  • @Fig_Faerie
    @Fig_Faerie Před 2 měsíci +1

    Algorithm Bump 🧚✨

  • @7zmxney685
    @7zmxney685 Před 3 lety +2

    WHO ELSE HERE FROM SCHOOL

  • @hiddencateye6878
    @hiddencateye6878 Před 2 lety +1

    I’m doing this for online school

  • @imbusy4iam-uz8ck
    @imbusy4iam-uz8ck Před rokem

    Sish