Chapter 11:Phrases and Form 151
If you’re serious about continuing your music education, you’ll study each of these
forms in much more detail. For now, though, it’s probably enough to know the
names of these forms; you can learn more about each form when the time comes.
The Least You Need to Know
◆Most popular songs consist of a short instrumental intro, one or more verses,
a chorus, a bridge, and an ending.
◆Each part of the song is assigned a letter; the form of the song is notated by a
combination of letters. For example, a song with two verses, a chorus, and a
final verse is designated AABA.
◆Jazz musicians and jam bands often play head arrangements, in which the
main melody (the head) is played straight; then used for a series of instrumen-
tal solos.
◆There are several forms specific to classical music, including the opera, the
sonata, and the symphony.