SONG FORMS

We are Family

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (16)
  • CHORUS (x2) (16)
  • VERSES 1–2 (16)
  • CHORUS (x2) (16)
  • VERSES 3–4 (16)
  • CHORUS (x2) (16)
  • ENDS: with walk up and hit on “AND of 4”
Tracked strings
Harmonize on accent words (verse)
Gang vocals on chorus
A major / 114bpm / 3:30

Send My Love

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (12)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (12)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • “READY” (4)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 3 (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • “READY” x2 (8)
  • ENDS: with empty downbeat (vocals resolve on downbeat)
comments here
D major / 82bpm / 3:45

Call Me Maybe

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (2)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (4)
  • CHORUS x2 (16)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (4)
  • CHORUS x2 (16)
  • BRIDGE (8)
  • INT (4)
  • LEAD-IN (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • BRIDGE (8)
  • END: empty out band on downbeat after “Call me maybe”
Tracked strings/synth
Simple 4-on-the-floor groove
Power chord guitar on LEAD-IN section
G major / 120bpm / 3:14

Run Around

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO 1 (4)
  • INTRO 2 with SOLO (8)
  • VERSE 1a (8)
  • VERSE 1b (10)
  • VERSE 1c (12)
  • CHORUS (10)
  • VERSE 2a (8)
  • VERSE 2b (10)
  • VERSE 2c (12)
  • CHORUS (10)
  • SOLO (12)
  • VERSE 3a (8)
  • VERSE 3b (10)
  • VERSE 3c (12)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (10)
  • OUTRO (2) (slow down at end) 4321-to end
  • END: hit on one and wash out
VERSES 1-2 start with 1/4-note rim tap
VERSE 3a stays UP
VERSE 3b comes down
G major / ~151bpm / 4:13

Born to Be Blue

  • SLOW TEMPO
  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • INTRO 1 (4) (piano only)
  • VERSE 1 (14)
  • PIANO WALKDOWN (1)
  • NEW TEMPO!
  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1a (8)
  • VERSE 1b (4)
  • VERSE 1c (4)
  • OOH (4)
  • VERSE 2a (8)
  • VERSE 2b (4)
  • VERSE 2c (4)
  • OOH (4)
  • INSTR (8)
  • VAMP (4)
  • VERSE 3a (8)
  • VERSE 3b (4)
  • VERSE 3c (4)
  • OOH (4)
  • INSTR (8)
  • VAMP (4)
  • OUTRO 1 (8)
  • OUTRO 2 (8)
  • OUTRO 3 (8)
  • OUTRO 4 (4)*
  • END: with hits on “what I missed” on last set of 4 bars*
comments here
A major / ~74bpm, ~134bpm / 4:50

Fishin' in the Dark

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1a (6)
  • VERSE 1b (6)
  • CHORUS (10)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2a (6)
  • VERSE 2b (6)
  • CHORUS (10)
  • CHORUS (8) (delay chorus)
  • LAST TIME (3) (drums/vocals only)*
  • END: with drum hit on downbeat of 3rd measure and a cappella vocals (“cool grass grows”)
comments here
D major / ~78bpm / 3:20

Dreams

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (8)
  • VERSE 1 (16)
  • PRE-CHORUS (12)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • INT (8)
  • VERSE 2 (16)
  • PRE-CHORUS (12)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • TAG (4)
  • END: with crash out on “you’ll KNOW”
comments here
C major / 120bpm / 4:17

The Chain

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (8)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 2 (12)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • INT (5)
  • RIFF 1–3 (6) (bass start)
  • RIFF 4–8 (10) (full band)
  • OUTRO (x4) (8)
  • CHORUS (8) (4+4)
    (4 double time + 4 half-time)
  • END: with drum fills into stop on beat 3 of last measure on echo of “NEVER break the chain”
comments here
E minor / 76bpm / 4:50

Edge of Seventeen

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • VERSE 1 (six parts) (24)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • VERSE 2 (four parts) (16)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • BRIDGE 1 (8)
  • BRIDGE 2 (8)
  • EXTEND (4) (4321 into next)
  • INT (8) (4321 into next)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • VERSE 3 (four parts) (16)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • BRIDGE 3 (8)
  • BRIDGE 4 (8)
  • CHORUS (8)*
  • END: on downbeat of bar 8 of last chorus (with oohs)
comments here
E minor / 109-114bpm / 5:25

Rhiannon

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • GUITAR INTRO (4)
  • BAND INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1a (8)
  • VERSE 1b (8)
  • VERSE 2a (8)
  • VERSE 2b (8)
  • TAG (2)
  • CHORUS (x4) (16)
  • ADD (2) (stop on downbeat of last bar)
  • VERSE 3a (8)
  • VERSE 3b (8)
  • TAG (2)
  • HOLD (2) (with 4321 into next)
  • CHORUS (x3) (12)
  • OUTRO 1 (16)
  • INSTR 1–4 (16)
  • OUTRO 2 (6)
  • END: with vocals only (“love’s a state of mind”)
comments here
A minor / 126-129bpm / 4:13

Come Together

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • CHORUS (2)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • CHORUS (x3) (6)
  • END: with build to stop on beat 3 of last measure before vocal sings “over me”
comments here
A minor / 80bpm / 2:00

Ironic

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (2)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (2)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • BRIDGE (x2) (8)
  • VERSE 3 (8)* (with 6/4 measure)
  • PRE-CHORUS (x2) (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • OUTRO (7)
  • END: with sustain on last downbeat
VERSE 3* includes 6/4 measure!!!
B major / 85.3bpm / 3:50

All of Me

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (8)
  • VERSE 1 (16)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • REFRAIN (8)
  • VERSE 2 (16)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • REFRAIN (8)
  • BRIDGE (8)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • REFRAIN (8)
  • TAG (8)
  • END: with suspended accompaniment
comments here
Ab major / 126bpm / 4:30

Good Luck Babe

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • DRUM INTRO (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (8)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (8)
  • INT (4)
  • BRIDGE (8)
  • TAG (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (8)
  • TAG (x3) (6)
  • END: slow down into downbeat and hold
Tracked strings/synth
Db major / ~117bpm / 3:38

Let's Hear It For the Boy

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • DRUM INTRO (4)
  • INTRO (8)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • VERSE 2 (4)
  • PRE-CHORUS (2)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • INT (5)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • VERSE 4 (4)
  • PRE-CHORUS (2)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • INT (13)
  • PRE-CHORUS (2)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • TAG (x6) (24)
  • OUTRO (x2) (8)
  • END: hit and suspend on downbeat
Tracked synth
C and D major / 122.8bpm / 4:20

December 1963

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • DRUM INTRO (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • INSTR (4)
  • BRIDGE (4)
  • INT (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • VERSE 4 (8)
  • INSTR (4)
  • BRIDGE (4)
  • OUTRO (8)
  • END: hit and suspend on downbeat
Gang vocals at OUTRO
Remember INT after first BRIDGE!
C major / ~103bpm / 3:33

A Thousand Miles

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • PIANO INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • INT (4)
  • BRIDGE (8)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (4) (end with 6/4)
  • CHORUS (DOWN) (8)
  • CHORUS (UP) (8)
  • TAG (2)
  • OUTRO (4)
  • END: with piano resolution
Drum groove at VERSE 1
Watch last PRE-CHORUS
(2 extra beats)
B major / 95bpm / 4:00

Hallelujah

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (6)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • TAG (4)
  • OUTRO (2)
  • END: with piano resolution
comments here
E major / 96bpm / 3:28

I Don't Want To Miss a Thing

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (16)
  • VERSE 1a (8)
  • VERSE 1b (12)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 2a (8)
  • VERSE 2b (8)
  • CHORUS (13)
  • BRIDGE 1 (8)
  • BRIDGE 2 (8)
  • YEAH (2)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • TAG 1 (6)
  • TAG 2 (6)
  • TAG 3 (6)
  • OUTRO 1 (6)
  • OUTRO 2 (6)
  • END: with suspend and hold on downbeat
Second CHORUS ends with drum fill transition into BRIDGE (note the 13m)
Backup vocals: ahs on chorus
end with harmonizing "don't wanna miss a thing"
Backup vocals: "ahs" with strings
TRACK: Piano and strings and guitar layers
E major / 121bpm / 4:45

Jolene

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • CHORUS (x2) (10)*
  • VERSES 1–4 (20)
  • CHORUS (x2) (10)*
  • VERSES 5–6 (10)
  • CHORUS (x2) (10)*
  • OUTRO (4)
  • END: with sustain guitar chord
4321 count-in to each VERSE
CHORUS starts with a 6/4 measure!
C# minor / 110bpm / 2:43

Dancing Queen

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • INTRO (8)
  • CHORUS B (6)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • LEAD-IN (2)
  • CHORUS A (8)
  • CHORUS B (6)
  • INT (6)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • LEAD-IN (2)
  • CHORUS A (8)
  • CHORUS B (6)
  • INT (4)
  • TAG (4)
  • OUTRO 1 (4)
  • OUTRO 2 (3)
  • END: with a cappella vocals on OUTRO 2
Tracked strings
Watch 6m INT before VERSE 3
Sing vocal hooks (all in at OUTRO)
A major / ~100bpm / 3:53

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (8)
  • VERSE 1 (9)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 2 (9)
  • CHORUS (9)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • SOLO (8)
  • VERSE 3 (9)
  • CHORUS (9)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • JUST WANNA (14)
  • WORKING (8)
  • INT (2)
  • COMBO (14)
  • OUTRO (4)
  • END: slow down then hit and sustain on downbeat
Tracked synth
Guys sing REFRAIN
COMBO starts with JUST WANNA then combines with WORKING for last half
F# major / ~120.5bpm / 3:54

Raise Your Glass

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • GUITAR INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • INT (4)
  • BRIDGE (8)
  • ADD (1)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • END: with hit on one
Tracked synth
BRIDGE vocals start early
Gang vocals on REFRAIN
Gang vocals on final CHORUS
G major / 122bpm / 3:23

Margaritaville

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (5)
  • VERSE 1 (16)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • VERSE 2 (16)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • INSTR (16)
  • VERSE 3 (16)
  • CHORUS (16)
  • TAG (6)
  • OUTRO (4)
  • END: with hit on beat THREE of last bar
Note the extra measure in INTRO
D major / ~125bpm / 4:09

Proud Mary

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (8)
  • NEW TEMPO!
  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (8)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (8)
  • BRIDGE (7)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (8)
  • BRIDGE (7)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (8)
  • BRIDGE (7)
  • END: with slowing down into hit on downbeat
Note the extra measure in INTRO
D major / 98bpm & 170bpm / 5:00

Have You Ever Seen the Rain

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (6)
  • VERSE 1 (16)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • VERSE 2 (16)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • END: with crash & sustain on downbeat
Note the 6 measures in INTRO
C major / 116bpm / 2:45

Walking On Sunshine

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • DRUM INTRO (4)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • CHORUS (6)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • VERSE 4 (8)
  • CHORUS (6)
  • REFRAIN (4)
  • INT (4)
  • SUNSHINE (4)
  • BRIDGE (4)
  • SUNSHINE (4)
  • CHORUS (6)
  • REFRAIN (x4) (16)
  • END: with drum fill into beat three of last bar on “and DON’T it feel good”
Double-time drums
Tracked organ
Bb major / ~110bpm / 4:00

Alone

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • PIANO INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (6)
  • CHORUS (6)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (5)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (6)
  • INSTR (4)
  • CHORUS (6)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (4)
  • SOLO (8)
  • REFRAIN (x2) (4)
  • TAG (x2) (5)
  • OUTRO (3)
  • END: with piano resolution, slowing down in last measure
Extra measure after first REFRAIN set
Instrumental before 2nd CHORUS
Extra measure after TAG
Bb minor & Gb major / ~87.5bpm / 3:38

Perfect

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • INSTR (4)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • TAG (2)
  • OUTRO (2)
  • END: with slow down into sustain on downbeat
Give key before START
BGVS on "ooh"
Ab major / 95bpm / 4:24

Easy On Me

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (10)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • INT (4)
  • VERSE 2 (9)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • EASY (4)
  • BRIDGE (5)
  • CHORUS (8)
  • OUTRO (4)
  • END: with piano resolution in final bar
VERSE 1 & 2 different lengths
Note 5m BRIDGE!
F major / 71bpm / 3:45

Free Fallin'

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (1)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • CHORUS (x2) (8)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • CHORUS (x2) (8)
  • INT (2)
  • BRIDGE (2)
  • INT (2)
  • BRIDGE (2)
  • VERSE 4 (8)
  • CHORUS (x2) (8)
  • INT (2)
  • BRIDGE (2)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • BRIDGE (x2) (4)
  • CHORUS (4)
  • BRIDGE (x2) (4)
  • END: with hit and sustain on downbeat
VERSE 3: harmonize "Ventura Blvd."
VERSE 4: snare groove
VERSE 4: bgvs on "oh-aay-oh"
E major / 84.39bpm / 4:15

Die With a Smile

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (14)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (14)
  • INT (8)
  • INSTR (8)
  • CHORUS (12)
  • TAG (6)
  • OUTRO (4)
  • END: with arrival on downbeat “next to YOU”
Gang vocals on "ohs" on INSTR
A major / 79bpm / 4:13

You and I

  • 4321 COUNT-IN (2)
  • SYNTH INTRO (2)
  • INTRO (4)
  • VERSE 1 (8)
  • VERSE 2 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (14)
  • INT (2)
  • VERSE 3 (8)
  • VERSE 4 (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS (14)
  • INT (2)
  • BRIDGE 1 (8)
  • BRIDGE 2 (8)
  • INSTR (8)
  • PRE-CHORUS (8)
  • CHORUS a (down) (4)
  • CHORUS b (up) (8)
  • EXTEND (4)
  • BRIDGE 1 (8)
  • BRIDGE 2 (8)
  • VERSE 5 (6)
  • END: with sustain chord on downbeat
first INT is empty, then drum fill into V3
A major / 127bpm / 5:07