When performing songs with bridges, your goal should be to create an easy transition back into the original key by moving chords around in an orchestrated fashion.
This can be accomplished through offering a different chord progression or even by adding chords from outside of the key, or simply changing the shape of the melody.
Verse
Verse sections make up the “meat and potatoes” of any song, usually featuring lengthy and in-depth lyrics that build upon its harmonic pattern to tell its story.
Verse is one of the key tools used by songwriters when connecting with listeners, such as in Queen’s iconic Bohemian Rhapsody which does not contain any chorus and relies instead on powerful verses to tell its musical story.
No matter the song, verse sections provide an excellent opportunity to practice various guitar techniques such as chord changes and strumming patterns.
Chorus
Choruses can often be the most memorable part of a song, drawing listeners in and encouraging them to continue listening. Choruses may feature simple melodic hooks or even just one note (such as in Beach Boys classic “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”).
Chorus melodies can distinguish themselves from verses through harmonic means such as chord changes and higher vocal range; by employing different rhythms to add urgency or by modulating to new keys. At a time when 10- to 15-second clips dominate social media platforms like Tiktok and Facebook Live, choruses must stand out more than ever to capture listener attention.
Before the chorus can begin, an energetic pre-chorus should be included to build up energy for it and act as a transition piece between sections with very different musical styles. Implementing this technique could make all the difference between an average song and an all-out success!
Interlude
An interlude is a musical piece which serves to connect two important entities in a song – usually verse and chorus. An interlude may consist of only a few bars long but can often serve to enhance both entities by connecting them more closely together.
“Interlude” is a term derived from Latin, and translates as “play between.” Historically, this phrase referred to instrumental music played between acts or liturgy services to keep the audience entertained and cover noise caused by costume changes or major set changes.
Use different guitar chords to craft an interlude. For instance, you could select to play a basic chord progression over a rhythm track before adding a guitar lick that uses scale-tone movement to enhance it and provide contrast amongst different sections of the song – making this technique perfect for creating variety! You could even apply this approach when decorating simple chord progressions.
Bridge
A bridge in a song usually provides an interlude of original melody or chord progression to set itself apart from its verse and chorus counterparts and give the song an added sense of movement and anticipation for what lies ahead.
Reducing dynamics offers the chance for bolder steps, like modulating to a different key. This could involve moving from major to minor (vi), or something as elaborate as Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years”, where there was an incredible bVI change (“Four in the morning / Crapped out, yawning away my life away”).
Tin Pan Alley songs typically followed a 32-bar AABA structure, where A was the verse and B the bridge. While rock ‘n’ roll has reduced this form’s prominence, bridges still serve a useful function in adding tension and excitement as they prepare listeners for what’s typically to follow – the chorus.