How many structures can we possibly add into one song?

• Nov 3, 2019 - 16:25

I think it is called structure.. I really hope I get this correct...
In any song, you there'll always be a verse and a chorus. How many structures are there exactly?
From what I know, there's an Opening, Intro, Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Instrumental, Outro, Ending.

Here are some examples. Or rather, ones that I don't quite understand,...... (Please correct me if I'm wrong)
1. [Hatsune Miku & IA - Jekyll & Hyde] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIHckmp_W0w
The structure goes like this :
Opening, Intro, first & second verses, Pre-chorus, Chorus (2, because the instrumentals (excluding the vocals) is different. Does First and Second Chorus exist?), Opening, First Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus (2), Bridge, Instrumental, Pre-chorus (Am I wrong?), Bridge (another bridge!?), chorus (2), Outro, Ending.

2.[ K-On!! Movie ED: Singing] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jURZkBYZxEI
Structure :
Opening, Intro, First & Second Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus, Intro, First & Second Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Instrumental, Pre-chorus, Chorus, Outro, Ending.

=====\ Side Note /=====
I've heard a Chinese song before that didn't have a Pre-chorus nor Opening, which I forgot the name to it...


Comments

According to my very limited music knowledge, there is not any international standard rule about some real "structure per song" limitation or guide.

The composers are absolutely free about this.

But... If you are asking something related specifically with Musescore... The only one known limitation is the RAM memory inside your computer.

You can use the left "PALETTE" panel, "TEXT" subpanel, "REHEARSAL MARK" option, to add any number of "Part" names to the song structure.

BTW: Musescore doesn't "see" this mark as some kind of structure itself. It is only useful to the human player. The only one way to get Musescore recognizes some kind of "song structure", is with the REPEAT and VOLTA options, which... Is another matter (see the User Manual to get more information about that).

The only true limitations to structures are related to standard notation. For example, you cannot put a second D.S. al coda where the segno is located somewhere between the First segno and the coda. This would cause confusion for both a human and MuseScore. It would be best to copy repeated measures after the coda and live with the longer score because nested or interlocked jumps and repeats are confusing and undefined in their meanings.

It is possible to put a second segno after the coda. With the correct adjustments MuseScore would understand it and, though it's unusual, a human would understand it also. It would be better if you did something to distinguish the second segno from the first, like use the alternate segno or put the word "second" or "2nd" before the 2nd segno to make it easier for the musician to understand during site reading. A common way this is done in classical music is to put the new section in a second movement and put the word "Attacca" at the end of the first movement to indicate there is no pause between movements. This may not make sense for some songs.

In reply to by mike320

It's the first time for me seeing "D.S. al coda" &"Segno". I don't fully comprehend them though. I'm assuming that I won't be using them frequently (or at all).

I googled "D.S. al coda meaning in music" and it says :
If the marking says D.S. al Coda, then the player is supposed to play from the to a “To Coda” marking, then jump to a coda section at the end of the music.

"Supposed to play from the"
The what exactly? D.S. al Coda?

==========\ Edit /==========
I understand it now. It would be interesting to compose like that. I'll see what I can come up with~

In reply to by Haoto 2

Here's the basics of DS al coda and DC al coda

DS means jump to the segno, while DC means jump to the head (start of the song). In both cases, you play until you encounter the To Coda and jump to the coda and play until the end of the song.

The order these symbols must be encountered in a song is:
Segno, To coda, DS al coda, Coda
or
(start of song), to coda, DC al coda, Coda

By default, repeat barlines are played through the final time after the DS or DC. There is an option to play the repeats in the inspector for all DS and DC jumps.

Also as nonprofessional and with limited knowledge, (my two cents) I think it depends always on, what you have in mind with your composition/arrangement.
I myself don't take care myself too much to general rules. Just today I finished an arrangement. For me it is more important to have a main theme and play around with it for some variations, to repeat from time to time the main theme, if it matches - to have a recognition factor.
Follow your own inspiration - it would be boring, if all songs would follow the same structure.

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