What I mean is, forgetting vocals, what makes a chorus a chorus and a verse a verse musically and how do you marry the 2 to become sections of the same song?
Odd question or not, but I am not musically trained at all, I play by ear but want to move my music on and this is puzzling me. I.e when I make a drum/bass loop, I don't know if I've created a verse or chorus bass, it's all in key and that though lol? Anyone care to answer this thing that confuses me?
I must sound like a right Amatuer?!:oops:
What is a chorus, what is a verse musically and more?
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- KVRAF
- 4279 posts since 14 Nov, 2008 from UK
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- Banned
- 3299 posts since 20 Dec, 2008
The dictionary definition of chorus, no, seriously -
A composition usually in four or more parts written for a large number of singers.
A refrain in which others, such as audience members, join a soloist in a song.
A line or group of lines repeated at intervals in a song.
A solo section based on the main melody of a popular song and played by a member of the group.
A body of singers who perform choral compositions, usually having more than one singer for each part.
A body of vocalists and dancers who support the soloists and leading performers in operas, musical comedies, and revues.
IE - the bit that everyone sings along to!!! (And this was done using a quick www.google.com search)
The verse is the opposite!
Man, I know you have another thread going about structure of dance music; I would politely suggest before you attempt to write any music, buy some books or do some serious research for yourself. Turn your synths, drum machines etc off and research.
A composition usually in four or more parts written for a large number of singers.
A refrain in which others, such as audience members, join a soloist in a song.
A line or group of lines repeated at intervals in a song.
A solo section based on the main melody of a popular song and played by a member of the group.
A body of singers who perform choral compositions, usually having more than one singer for each part.
A body of vocalists and dancers who support the soloists and leading performers in operas, musical comedies, and revues.
IE - the bit that everyone sings along to!!! (And this was done using a quick www.google.com search)
The verse is the opposite!Man, I know you have another thread going about structure of dance music; I would politely suggest before you attempt to write any music, buy some books or do some serious research for yourself. Turn your synths, drum machines etc off and research.
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240 - KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4279 posts since 14 Nov, 2008 from UK
I'm talking about the music in a verse or chorus! but cheers, also I have bought books but still found it hard because of the terminology, so I put them down and just tinker on my small studio, I also work long hours normally so I don't normally have much time for making music, which is why I am asking these questions, to get pointed in the correct direction, I.e. a good DVD or a good book I don't mind, I don't want to learn 'The grand old duke of york' on a piano, I want to produce dance music. I have bought DVD's like Kashif-Producing The Phat Hitz 1/2 and In The Lab, but I am still none the wiser on how to create a whole peice start to finish.
Please don't mention any more of the vocal thing, I'm not a singer, I just want to do the music first, maybe using samples for vocals or get a vocalist later on when I get better at it, but not for now, I want to concentrate on the music.
Please don't mention any more of the vocal thing, I'm not a singer, I just want to do the music first, maybe using samples for vocals or get a vocalist later on when I get better at it, but not for now, I want to concentrate on the music.
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- KVRAF
- 2744 posts since 5 Dec, 2003 from Harlan's World
You don't really need to think in terms of verse/chorus, *especially* since you don't want to talk about the "vocal thing". Basically a chorus will be the same as a "refrain", ie a repeated musical section which comes back.
For example, in an ABABAB piece, A would typically be the verse and B the chorus, but it could easily be swapped around (BABABA).
A rondo is ABACADACABA, for example, with a repeating chorus with variations on the verse spread in equal measures around the song.
I write mostly instrumental music and never really think in terms of a "chorus", but rather as parts which create tension. I find myself often using an AABACAB1A scheme in which A is the main theme and B is a countertheme, C is a bridge and B1 is a variation on the countertheme.
You ask how you "marry" the two. There are endless ways. Think in terms of opposites, for example: Create a main theme of, say, 1-2 bars, and then build a section on that. Then you create a theme to "reply" to the main theme. This is your countertheme.
Experimentation is the key to success, really. Study instrumental pieces and see how they're put together. It's not rocket science.
For example, in an ABABAB piece, A would typically be the verse and B the chorus, but it could easily be swapped around (BABABA).
A rondo is ABACADACABA, for example, with a repeating chorus with variations on the verse spread in equal measures around the song.
I write mostly instrumental music and never really think in terms of a "chorus", but rather as parts which create tension. I find myself often using an AABACAB1A scheme in which A is the main theme and B is a countertheme, C is a bridge and B1 is a variation on the countertheme.
You ask how you "marry" the two. There are endless ways. Think in terms of opposites, for example: Create a main theme of, say, 1-2 bars, and then build a section on that. Then you create a theme to "reply" to the main theme. This is your countertheme.
Experimentation is the key to success, really. Study instrumental pieces and see how they're put together. It's not rocket science.
My Soundcloud Too many pieces of music finish far too long after the end. - Stravinsky
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
Doesn't matter if you have vocals or not, the method is still the same(ish). The chorus is the "hooky" part that bears much repetition, the verse is the main "theme" ... how you marry the two is up to you. Sometimes you need a bridge (like in the James Brown song). If it sounds right, then it probably is right IMHO
Are you a Geordie?breakmixer wrote:it's all in key and that though
breakmixer wrote:I must sound like a right Amatuer?!:oops:
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4279 posts since 14 Nov, 2008 from UK
[quote="thecontrolcentre"]Doesn't matter if you have vocals or not, the method is still the same(ish). The chorus is the "hooky" part that bears much repetition, the verse is the main "theme" ... how you marry the two is up to you. Sometimes you need a bridge (like in the James Brown song). If it sounds right, then it probably is right IMHO
[quote="breakmixer"]it's all in key and that though[/quote]
Are you a Geordie?
[quote="breakmixer"]I must sound like a right Amatuer?!:oops:[/quote]
:lol:[/quote]
Nice answers from the last 2 posts, but I'm not a geordie, I'm a shandy drinking soft southern nancy(according to a geordie that is)!!!!
I start the night with larger tops(according to northerners that constitues Shandy)?!
I got the idea now, If it sounds right it is right, I'm a chippy by trade and I got a saying when something ain't plumb or level, if it looks right, it is right lol! :D
[quote="breakmixer"]it's all in key and that though[/quote]
Are you a Geordie?
[quote="breakmixer"]I must sound like a right Amatuer?!:oops:[/quote]
:lol:[/quote]
Nice answers from the last 2 posts, but I'm not a geordie, I'm a shandy drinking soft southern nancy(according to a geordie that is)!!!!
I start the night with larger tops(according to northerners that constitues Shandy)?!
I got the idea now, If it sounds right it is right, I'm a chippy by trade and I got a saying when something ain't plumb or level, if it looks right, it is right lol! :D
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
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- KVRAF
- 4222 posts since 23 Feb, 2004 from Tucson Arizona USA
Like many musical idioms, the meaning of the words depends on the style of music you're discussing.breakmixer wrote:What I mean is, forgetting vocals, what makes a chorus a chorus and a verse a verse musically and how do you marry the 2 to become sections of the same song?
In my world, the "chorus" is the part where you point the mic at the crowd in the club and they sing it to you. A "refrain" is a short chorus: "Boom boom... Turn Out the Lights". The "Chorus" is the part of "Hotel California" that the drunks know.
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- KVRian
- 1084 posts since 12 Sep, 2008 from Your basement
Then what is a bridge? A break?
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- KVRAF
- 4265 posts since 21 Oct, 2001 from my bolthole in the south pacific
Nope. A bridge is a joining section - as in "where's that confounded bridge". A "break" is when everyone else shuts up and one player (eg drummer) plays for a few bars before the rest come back in.Ogg Vorbis wrote:Then what is a bridge? A break?
Hence "break beats" like the famous Amen Break - these are short sections of a recorded tune where only drums play. They make it easy to grab a sampled drum beat uncluttered by other instruments or vocals and use it in another application (like getting paid a squillion for making a commercial).