Working Method

Let’s say that my first idea is one of the standard verse types: x a x a.

x a x a x You want a gentleman who wears a tux a For dining and dancing x Then you want another one who acts like a clown a Spends his life keepin' you laughin'

Then I think about where I might want to try a different idea. Maybe the third line looks like an opportunity for something different. That line is a little long, and the fourth line doesn’t have much momentum. So, I might try to change the phrase length of the third line, replacing it with two shorter phrases:

Change the Phrase Length x You want a gentleman who wears a tux a For dining and dancing b Then you want a clown b To show around town a Spends his life keepin' you laughin'

Now, it is a less predictable structure, in this form:

x a b b a 2 2 1 1 2

I might then try to take my original in a different direction. What does it look like if I rhyme the last two lines, to create an a x a a structure?

a x a a a You want a gentleman who wears a tux x For dining and dancing a Then you want another who brings you good luck a Soon you'll want a different one who drives a big truck

Or what if I change the phrase length, to have two larger phrases in this structure? aa 44

a a a You want a gentleman who wears a tux to take you dining and dancing a Next day you want another one who acts like a clown to keep you screamin' and laughin'

The next step is to come up with a chorus that goes with the verse structure you choose. We saw in week 2 that the chorus should contrast with the verse. So, when you prepare to create a chorus for a verse, make a list that describes what the verse is like. Many of these musical elements are discussed in the “Melody” book. Your list might look like this:

Song Description Musical Element Verse Note Length shorter Phrase Length 2 measures Number of Phrases 4 Length of Progression 2 measures Rhyme Scheme x a x a Lyric Content story Shape (chorus) ascending Chord Progression Am FMaj7 G6

Once you describe your verse, fill in the "Chorus" column with contrasting values. A new tool to think about here is "New Notes."

Contrasting Sections Worksheet Musical Element Verse Chorus Note Length shorter longer Phrase Length 2 measures 4 measures Number of Phrases 4 3 Length of Progression 2 measures 2 measures Rhyme Scheme x a x a a a x Lyric Content story summary Shape (Chorus) ascending descending Chord Progression Am FMaj7 G6 Am FMaj7 G6 New Notes (chorus) E

Now, draft a chorus that fits those characteristics you listed in your column. Use these different ideas, and develop them differently. Then create some alternate choruses, changing various aspects of the first one you create. In this way, you will develop a verse/chorus pair that offers good complements for each other.

Mental Connections: