Most people don’t like to think very hard when they listen to music. Why would they? Music is meant for emotional pleasure and enjoyment. And like most things, familiarity helps ease the mind. Whenever something new is introduced into our minds it causes at least some bit of cognitive dissonance.
Therefore, along the way songwriters have found certain song forms that are effective in creating an emotional impact. There is some bit of repetition and familiarity in all of these. Here is a list of the song forms in popular music that we are most accustomed to:
Song Forms
- AAA Song Form (liturgical music, folk music, singalongs, old-time ballads)
- ABAB and ABAC Song Forms (jazz, show tunes, pop)
- AABA Song Form (jazz, old-school country)
- Verse – Chorus Song Form (modern liturgical music, folk music, protest songs, singalongs, urban)
- Verse – Chorus – Bridge Song Form (pop, country, rock, folk, urban)
- Verse – Lift – Chorus Song Form (pop, new country, rock, urban)
- 12-Bar Blues Form (any and every genre somehow, not just the blues)
Chord Progressions
- Basic Chord Progressions in Major Keys
- Advanced Chord Progressions in Major Keys
- Basic Chord Progressions in Minor Keys
- Advanced Chord Progressions in Minor Keys
