Terms in Popular Music

Verse

like a poetic stanza, if two or more sections have identical music and different lyrics, each section is a verse.

Chorus

Elements repeat at least once musically & lyrically. Greater intensity, main message.

Bridge/Middle 8

Transitional period in middle, occurs once

Instrumental

Singing stops, melody on instrument

Intro/Outro

Beginning, end/coda

Filler

Melodic or rhythmic response, while main melodic layer has rest or long note.

Riff

Ostinato figure often played by rhythmic section, forming basis or accompaniment.

Hook

short riff that makes song appealing, catch the ear of listener. In chorus with main motif

Backbeat

Strong emphasis on beats 2 and 4, often on snare drum

Syncopation

Emphasis on weaker beats.

Added note chord

Chord where one or more notes have been added to 1,3,5

Distortion

dirty and fuzzy sounds, compressing peaks of soundwave. 3 types.

Fusion/Crossover

combine 2+ styles