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Good structure is vital part of any song. If your songs have poor structure, then you will probably find it very frustrating when trying to pitch your tunes to artists for their consideration. Even if the idea is good, if the structure is bad, then the song will most likely be passed over.

So what are the rules of structure? Well, there are many. And the trouble with explaining the rules is, for every rule of songwriting structure there is, there is a well known song somewhere that has broken that rule and still been a successful song. But generally it takes a veteran songwriter to break the rules effectively.
Here are a few of the basics.

Most gospel songs follow one of these formats.

Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus. This is commonly referred to as an ABAB format. The music of the Verse, or A, is different than the music of the Chorus, or B. An example of this format would be Dottie Rambos song WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM.

Many Gospel songs contain a Bridge or C section. This is a music and lyric idea that is different from the Verse (A) or Chorus (B) sections. This format would look like this ABABCB or ABACB. You can really arrange it in almost any order you choose. But rarely will you find the C section first. But then again, it can happen. I had a song titled IN JESUS' NAME, that was recorded by the Nelons back in 1988. That song started and ended with the Bridge or C section. But I have written over 1000 songs, and that's the only one I can remember that starts with the Bridge. An example of the ABABCB format is Kirk Talley's TRIUMPHANTLY THE CHURCH WILL RISE.

Then there is the AAAA format, or Verse-Verse-Verse-Verse. An example of this would be AMAZING GRACE
If your songs cannot be broken down into at least one of these elements, Verse,Chorus, or Bridge, then you probably have a song with poor structure. It is possible to write a song that is all one section, an A format song, where no music idea, or lyric is repeated. But that type of song is generally found in the ART SONG category of Classical Music. If the lyric of your song reads like a letter, with no rhythm or rhyme, then it most likely has poor structure. There must be meter to your lyric. The words must flow in a logical or singable rhythm that lends itself well to music.

I have had many first time lyric writers bring me pages of words, and ask me to set them to music. This is an almost impossible task when the lines of text are all different in length, and there is no central idea or phrase that is repeated. Most good lyrics are not written that way.

The best place to start learning song structure is with your church hymnal. The hymns that have lasted through many generations, have usually done so because they are well written songs.

Here is an exercise I'd like for you to try. Examine the structure of the lyrics to AT CALVARY and GLORY TO HIS NAME.

AT CALVARY (Verse 1)

YEARS I SPENT IN VANITY AND PRIDE
CARING NOT MY LORD WAS CRUCIFIED
KNOWING NOT IT WAS FOR ME HE DIED
AT CALVARY


GLORY TO HIS NAME (Verse 1)

DOWN AT THE CROSS WHERE MY SAVIOR DIED
DOWN WHERE FOR CLEANSING FROM SIN I CRIED
THERE TO MY HEART WAS THE BLOOD APPLIED
GLORY TO HIS NAME

Notice how the structure of the verses of these two classic hymns is exactly the same. Both songs start with three lines that contain 9 syllables. And the 4th line of each song is the song's title. Lines 1, 2, and 3 all rhyme, and line 4 does not.

I challenge you to take what you've seen in these two hymns and write your own song using this same structure. Don't worry about it sounding the same as these two songs. If you listen closely, these two songs don't sound alike at all, yet they follow the exact same structure.

Pick a subject area, such as the Resurrection, Second Coming, Heaven, or Healing. Then write your song following the same structure as these two songs. Make lines 1,2, and 3 all the same number of syllables. Make all three of those lines rhyme. Then put the title of your song at line 4. Then choose the Chorus of GLORY TO HIS NAME as the pattern for your Chorus.

title GLORY TO HIS NAME
title GLORY TO HIS NAME
new lyric THERE TO MY HEART WAS THE BLOOD APPLIED
title GLORY TO HIS NAME

Using this Chorus as your pattern, you only have to come up with one new line of lyric in your Chorus. It doesn't get much easier than that. Just remember to create new music for your new lyric.

I hope this exercise will help you create a great new song. When you finish this one, look through your hymnbook and pick out another song that you love, and do the same thing again. If you continue to do this, over time you will find that you have begun to follow the rules of good structure instinctively.

'Til next time, keep on writing

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