Creating A Pre-Chorus Or Chorus With A Similar Harmonical Flavour As The Verse

[Tallmaleuk]

Hi everyone,

 

I have heard many songs where the verse chord progression sounds related to the pre-chorus chord progression and the chorus chord progression almost as if they were using the same chords but perhaps in a different order? I would very much like to develop some song ideas I have which sometimes contain a chorus but no verse or pre-chorus and I would like to write a verse which appears to use similar chords as the chorus so it has a similar harmonic flavor as the chorus but is different if that makes any sense?

How is this achieved? To write a verse and pre-chorus that has a similar but complimentary chord progression as the chorus does this involve using the same chords in a different order? Or does this involve adding more chords to the original chord progression for the chorus to develop a new chord progression which can then be used successfully for the pre-chorus and the verse?

Many thanks.

[Tallmaleuk]

Hi Tom,

 

Thanks for this link.

 

I will definitely take a look at some of the articles as you recommend.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[Alistair]

Hi Tallmeuk

 

i don't think there is a formula for this. A lot depends on how you write. For example if your initial musical idea is for the verse then it is likely you will have a melody in your head for that and that will lead you to what the pre-chorus could be, whether or not you used the same chords in the verse. Alternatively, your first idea might be for the chorus:  I personally find that a hard place to start because it is almost as though I have written the best part of the song and I have to find something else as good for the verse (and then maybe a pre-chorus).

 

Recently I wrote a song where the chorus uses the guitar chords Am7, D, G, C in that order. I pretty much had the vocal mellody in my head before I found which chords would go under it. So I played around with chords in the same key until I came up with the chord sequence for the verse - G/Am7/Em7/Cmaj7. You'll see that those chords are similar to the chorus but just a little different - just try experimenting. For the prechorus that led me to Dm/Dm7/Cm/Cm7/G/Dm/Dm7/Cm/Cm7/D. Then I had to come up with a bridge! So Em/Cm/G/Em/Cm/Bm/Am7/D/Cm. None of this makes much sense without the timing but you'll see that all of these chords are similar and in the same key and it was trial and error to work out a progression that worked. This took a few weeks!

 

It's not surprising there are a lot of songs that uses similar chords for verse and chorus. It's how you smooth the flow without too many jarring, disjointed sections that sound like different songs glued together.

 

A song doesn't have to have a pre-chorus of course which is often only a different direction for the verse to go in before the chorus. You can start a song with a chorus too.

 

Hope this helps

[Tallmaleuk]

Hi Beast Of Farlington,

 

I have pretty much the same process for writing songs as you. Sometimes I come up with the chorus first and at other times the verse and sometimes both. If the particular song feels it needs it to complete it then I will think about writing a pre-chorus or/and a bridge. The problem is even though i usually have a melodic idea for the vocal melody for the verse for instance I am still stuck with where to take the pre-chorus and bridge. So this is why I would like to learn to write a similiar harmonic pre-chorus or/and bridge that sounds like or has a similar harmonic sound to the verse and chorus as this perfhaps would give me more of a clue in writing a melody for the pre-chorus leading up to the chorus itself.

 

Sometimes I listen to hit songs and the pre-chorus and bridge seems to fit the verse and chorus perfectly as if all these parts were meant to be together and thats what I am looking to learn to write as I can come up with the verses and choruses relatively easily. Its just completing the song with the addition of a good pre-chorus and bridge where required that I have trouble with.

 

I play a little piano by ear but i dont have a lot of musical theory knowledge though i am learning all about chord progressions as we speak. Hopefully this knowledge will increase my options when writing all parts of a song.

 

Does your chord progression: Dm/Dm7/Cm/Cm7/G/Dm/Dm7/Cm/Cm7/D start with the triad Dm followed by Dm7 ie the triad followed by the seventh chord of Dm? Is this type of chord progression common as I have never seen it before.

 

I suppose as long as it sounds good and fits in with the song you have written thats the key right?

 

Anyway thanks for your insightful and informative response. I am quickly learning that the more knowledge I have about how songs are put together the easier it will be to complete my songs to my complete satisfaction.

 

Many thanks again for all your help.

[gradual]

I suppose as long as it sounds good and fits in with the song you have written thats the key right?

 

Yes, I'd say that's your answer right there.

 

I think a common mistake of beginning songwriters is to think there is a right or wrong way to do anything. Of course, it helps to have a basic knowledge of song structure, which you seem to already have. Beyond that, it's about what sounds right to you. Best approach is often just trial and error. Just try a bunch of stuff until you find something you're happy with.