Parts of a Song: Breaking Down the Song Structure of “Firework”

Just like any other piece of writing, most songs share a basic structure with similar parts. It’s not required to use this structure, but there’s a reason why so many successful songs do. Even if you don’t know how songs are structured, you’ll probably recognize those parts when you start to put songs side by side. 

Take some time to study the form of your favorite songs. Try to identify the different parts within the structure. Then write your own song that fits into the structure. And don’t forget to submit it to our Songwriting Competition!

Intro: The attention grabber! The intro is usually instrumental, and normally (but not always!) has a slower tempo than the song to follow. This is the place where the song establishes many of its important elements: e.g. key, tempo, rhythm, and mood.

Example: The first 8 seconds of “Firework” 

Verse: The verses of a song sound alike, but have different words that help to tell the song’s story or deliver its message. Verses are usually three or four lines. Typically, one or two verses precede the chorus.

Example:

Verse 1:

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag

Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin

Like a house of cards, one blow from cavin' in?

Verse 2:

Do you ever feel already buried deep?

Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you?

'Cause there's a spark in you

Pre-Chorus: Usually only a couple lines, this section serves as a transition from the verse to the chorus. A pre-chorus is optional, but it can help to build anticipation for the big chorus. 

Example:

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

Chorus: The chorus is repeated between each verse or every couple of verses. As the climax of the song, it’s often considered the catchiest and most memorable part, delivering the song’s most important message, idea, or feeling. Often, but not always, the title of the song can be found in the chorus. 

Example:

'Cause baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, "Oh, oh, oh"

As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colors burst

Make 'em go, "Oh, oh, oh"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Bridge: The bridge is an optional departure from the song’s pattern, typically replacing one of the verses toward the end of the song. The melody and chords usually change here. 

Example:

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

It's always been inside of you, you, you

And now it's time to let it through

Outro: The opposite of an intro, the outro ends a song. It can contain elements that were introduced earlier in the song, but it’s often not repeated the way that the chorus and verses are. Outros can be instrumental or include vocals, which often consist of a repeated, simple line (e.g. “na na na”). 

Example:

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon