While not every song uses a Pre-Chorus, they are without a doubt a key component in popular song structures.
So What Even Is a Pre-Chorus?
Pre-Choruses (like its name suggests) sits in between the verses and the chorus in your song writing structure. It is often two to four lines long however could even go up to eight at times. It is very unlikely to find one above eight!
Like the chorus and verse, the pre-chorus (usually) has the same melody every time it appears in the song.
Often the lyrics are the same too, however unlike the chorus, some songwriters change the lyrics but keep the melody the same so that it is still identifiable as the pre-chorus.
A few notable examples of using a pre-chorus are as follows:
Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit
An Iconic Song by an Iconic (at least in my opinion anyway!)
The Pre-chorus goes as follows:
Hello Hello Hello How Low
Hello Hello Hello How Low
Hello Hello Hello How Low
Hello Hello Hello
Seems pretty simple right? Sometimes simplicity is all you need because this pre-chorus does a great job of getting us (the listeners) excited and pumped up for the chorus we all know is coming.
A great pre-chorus is a bit like a ramp, leading the energy from the lower level of the verse, up to the higher energy level of the chorus. Another fantastic example of using the Pre-Chorus to do this is:
Katy Perry- Firework
Despite the opening two lines (Yes Katy, sometimes we do feel like a plastic bag but we don’t normally word it like that) Firework is a banger! It is a pop song in its purest form. It’s upbeat, fun and happy and its pre-chorus perfectly revs up the listeners, getting them ready to belt out the chorus along with Perry.
You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the 4th of July
Cause Baby You’re a FIIIIIIIIREEEWOOOOOORK, Come on, show ’em WHAAAT YOOUR”E WOOORTH
*ahem*
Like I said, the pre-chorus just makes you want to sing along!
A Pre-Chorus adds another layer to the song, varying the simple structure of Verse Chorus Verse Chorus.
If you have more to say with your lyrics, utilising a pre-chorus allows you more room to do so. It also gives the writer an opportunity to create a few bars to help the transition from Verse Melody to Chorus Melody.
Do you have any favourite Pre-Choruses? Comment and let me know!
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