Need help with songwriting (bridges)

[esl]

I've been getting into writing songs within a certain scale or key (instead of just using my ear ), and I am wondering if there is a source out there for common "verse-bridge-verse" combinations to use as a starting point.

For example, if my the verses of my song are in "C Minor", what would be a logical key for the bridge to be?

Another example, if the song is in the "Locrian" scale, what logical scale/key choice would the bridge be?

[Amberience]

Well if you want the whole song to be in the same key, you'd use chords within that key. A rudimentary way of doing this:

Lets say you've got Dmajor as your key. The scale being:

D E F# G A B C#

Corresponding chords for a major scale would be:

Dmaj Emin F#min Gmaj Amaj Bmin C#dim.

If you wanted to switch keys, you could do it on any of the chord really, providing the chord you do it with is in both keys.

This of course is just my laymens understanding of it, but it works for me.

[Quakemazer]

What Andrew is referring to is typically known as modulating between keys. You find a chord that is in both keys and use it as a pivot chord. The I of the new key will typically fall on a strong beat, such as the first beat of your bridge.

Googling for those well known terms will get you some results on the subject. Searching for Key Modulation got some nice results.

I'm not sure if this is to the heart of your question, but should help you somewhat.

[Hewitt Huntwork]

I'm a bookseller so I'm going to recommend some books for you (or anybody) who wants to skip straight to the good titles:

1) Songwriters On Songwriting

2) Writing Music for Hit Songs

3) The Complete Idiot's Guide to Songwriting

Don't be put off by the names of the last two! I've looked at a lot of songwriting books, and they all have to be taken with a grain of salt. These above are the best I've seen.

[Amberience]

You may wanna get AB Guide To Music Theory by Eric Taylor - part one is more useful than part two I find, but both are good.

[nuffink]

I've been getting into writing songs within a certain scale or key (instead of just using my ear ), and I am wondering if there is a source out there for common "verse-bridge-verse" combinations to use as a starting point.

For example, if my the verses of my song are in "C Minor", what would be a logical key for the bridge to be?

Another example, if the song is in the "Locrian" scale, what logical scale/key choice would the bridge be?

Typical modulation targets from C minor would be the relative major Eb, the parallel major C or the closest minor keys in the circle of fifths F and G.
From there the modulations become increasingly dramatic.
The relative majors of F minor and G minor.
Moving further round the circle of fifths to Bb and D minor, and their relative majors.
Quite radical modulations are possible by what is known as enharmonic respelling of chords.
It's down to you how dramatic you want the modulation to be.
As Quakemazer said if you google for pivot chord or modulation you'll get a lot of info.

As for the Locrian mode, it's not really used to write whole pieces in. More as a scale for choosing which notes to play over a particular chord (usually a half diminished chord).

[nuffink]

Here's a good page on modulation showing Schoenberg's "chart of the regions". This illustrates the closeness of keys.

[Quakemazer]

Nuffink I've never had the oppurtunity to thank you for Chordspace. It's such an amazing tool for quick experimentation and can lead to inspiration. So in summary: Thanks!


Sorry for the off topic reply

[esl]

ahhhh.... "Modulation" - I think that's what I am seeking.

Many thanks everyone!