WHAT MAKES A POPULAR SONG? CHLOE TOWNSEND

SONG STRUCTURE VERSE- Tells us the story; it answers who, what, where, when and why. Lyrics usually change from verse to verse although the melody stays the same. Pre-Chorus- Builds energy and lead the listener into the chorus Chorus- sums up the message of the song answers the question ‘so what’ contains the song’s hook. Lyrics and melody usually stay the same in each chorus Bridge- Provides lyrical and melodic contrast. Usually offering a different point of view or perspective it also offers a final chance for the vocalist to lead the listener back to the final chorus VERSE Chorus VERSE Chorus Bridge Chorus

MELODY Keep It Simple: The simpler the melody is the easier it is to remember. Use a Stepwise Motion: The spaces between each note is primarily a whole step or less. Limit Range: The range(musical distance between the lowest and highest note) of a typical pop songs melody. Tessitura: This is perhaps the most important parameter you can manipulate with regards to your melody. The word Tessitura refers to the highness or lowness of a melody. Note Stability: Without getting into music theory too heavily, its very important to know that certain notes in a given key will feel more stable than others. Rhythm: The rhythm of your melody can serve to add additional contrast between various parts of your song.

HARMONIC UNDERPRINTING The chords that sit under your melody and rhythm at which they change. Chord Stability: Piking the right chords can serve to strengthen the melody. Harmonic acceleration/deceleration: The rates of which the the chords change.

SUM IT UP Sum up the entire message of your song in one short phrase Instead of abstract lyrics, paint a picture with detail. Your lyrics should unfold like a story. KEEP IT SIMPLE

MAKE EVERY LINE COUNT A song is too short for filler

TITLE (AND TITLE PLACEMENT) The titles of most pop songs almost always appear in their lyrics