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20.2 · Song Form

Three classic maps

Most songs you know are built on one of three maps. Learn to spot them and every new song arrives half-familiar: you know where the payoff lives, where the detour goes, and when you're coming home. Each demo below is a whole form in miniature, one bar per chip.

The three maps

Follow the chips. Every song you hear this week will be one of these.

VCVCBC

Pop's default since the sixties. Story, payoff, story, payoff, detour, payoff.

AABA

The 32-bar standard: the tune twice, a contrasting middle (the original 'bridge'), the tune once more. Over the Rainbow, most of the Great American Songbook, plenty of Beatles.

IIIIIVIVIIVIVIV

The twelve bars seen from above: here the form is the progression.

Quiz

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In AABA form, the B section is…

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson.Same note, different voice →