Tools for Chorus Variation

Adding an Extra Line

Most standard chorus types are four lines long. Adding a fifth line is one of the easiest and most effective ways to create a surprising chorus. If the added line is the title, it gets extra emphasis

An extra line at the end gives additional emphasis to the title line, making it the last thing that the audience hears

- T - T T

You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi

- T - - T

Sweet Baby James

T - - - T

Bye Bye Love

Ghost In This House - A. Krauss

One More Time - B. Spears

Breathe - F. Hill

Carolina In My Mind - J. Taylor

If This Is It - H. Lewis

Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police

Replace a Repeated Title

Many of the standard chorus types use the tool of repetition to emphasize the title. If you want to create a variation, omit the repetition

T T T -

There is a twist at the end, which offers an element of surprise

Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes

Let it Rain - E. Clapton

New Kid In Town - The Eagles

Hit Me With Your Best Shot - P. Benatar

Change the Music

In some standard chorus structures, when the title is repeated, the melody and harmony are also repeated. To create variation, repeat the title to a different melody or harmony

Roxanne - The Police

Heartache Tonight - The Eagles

Subtract a Line

Since most standard chorus types are four lines long, subtracting a line (creating a three-line chorus) will add a sense of surprise

T T T

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - The Beatles

Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple

Leavin' on a Jet Plane - J. Denver

Combine/stack chorus types

Stack two chorus types together

You can use two of the same types (T - T - + T - T -)

- - - T + - - - T T [also adds a line])

Time, Love, and Tenderness - M. Bolton

You can use two different chorus types (T - T - + T T T T)

T - T - + - - - T

Back In The Highlife Again - S. Winwood

The Boy Is Mine - Monica & Brandy

C'est La Vie - B'Witched

Rock & Roll All Night - Kiss

I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan

As Long As You Love Me - Backstreet Boys

Another One Bites The Dust - Queen

Mental Connections: