Simplify and make that chorus soar

I think one way young songwriters (and this includes me) (and this means songwriters new to the craft, not necessarily young in age) get into trouble is that they try to keep the verse going in the chorus. In other words, the chorus follows the same basic patterns as the verse. One way to mix it up a bit is to simply make the notes of your chorus twice as long as the notes in your verse. i.e. if your verse moves in eighth notes, make your chorus move in quarter notes, or even half notes.

You might also want to make the pitches ascend as you move to your chorus, and make the notes of your chorus hang out in a higher tessitura (musical term for "average pitch range"). This in combination with the longer notes can really make your chorus take off.

The chorus should be the distilled message your song is trying to convey. Simplifying it down (by making the notes longer) is one way to get there.

Not every chorus does this. Not all of your choruses have to do it either. But if you find your song is missing something, this might be one way to kick it up a notch.

Comments

[Dan@danmanjovi.com]

Great advice, Morry! Sometimes hearing something said in a new way clarifies it all over again. Keep it coming!

Best,
Dan

[Morry]

Dan,

Thanks for chiming in now and then. Nice to know someone's listening out there.

xo,
M