How To Compose A Bridge/Pre-Chorus?

  • Thread starter Thread starter KaosTheMIDIProphet
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Bridges can be as simple or complex as you make them.

Some bridges don't even have key changes.

Sometimes certain sounds come out of the track (like a Bassline) (or everything but the drums). These bridges are usually dictated by the rappers change of flow.

Sometimes extra sounds come in but the main beat and key will still be the same (50 cent "In the Club" is a good example).

And at times the melody does change, but the drums stay the same. (like Fabulous new song).

Or even the whole song almost changes.


There are really no rules to it because the key point is to create tension. Sometimes very off key stuff is what you need, other times tension can be created more simply (by maybe taking stuff out).


Main thing though is to study music theory and sheet music and songs already on the radio.

Stevie Wonder is a good artist to study on key changes (he changes the key of songs in very interesting ways).

Neptunes is a good current group to study.
 
you don't always have to change keys to make a bridge of a song. One way is to look at all the different triads within the key.. For instance, if you're in the key of Eb Minor, it's root triad would be Eb, Gb, and Bb. Now, lets say you wanted to change the song to sound major during the bridge, you just need to find a major chord within the key of Eb.. say F# major? and work around that. Using inversions will make it sound alot better; F#major inversion ex: A#, C#, and F#, in that order.
 
i think you can use an infinite variety of methods but the goal of a bridge is the same--to maintain interest in the song. if it's a pre-chorus, then it should lead to the chorus in a way that is somewhat different and unexpected, but also smooth. it should balance between the extremes of being jarring and taking the listener out of the song, and being vanilla and boring. I think the key in a bridge or prechorus is introducing the right amount of tension. while the chorus and the verse are generally pretty 'stable', the prechorus, especially in the few bars directly before the chorus, should introduce tension.

a few ways to do this are harmonically, by using V or V7 chords, melodically, by having the melody rise in pitch, by introducing new parts or dropping others out, switching the drum pattern, or any other method. it's also important to change the 'texture' of the music during the bridge or prechorus. if the verse is very smooth and legato, make the bridge/prechorus more rhythmic or staccato, or vice versa. these sections should serve to renew the listeners attention to the song.

another miscellaneous idea is to use some kind of noise, like a rising synth or a 'wall of sound' sort of thing or a cymbal build-up right before the chorus.
 
zerrat said:
Yes you all got it right. It's all about transposing to the relative minor/major (depending what scale/key you started in). Wheter you call it two scale notes or 3 half notes is irrelevant to me.
Click to expand...

Works like a charm evertime. Just add some new textures, instruments and patterns remove a few of the main ones and you're good to go.

A word of advice: Don't use the same bridge style for all your tracks. ie don't just transpose all of your bridges down 3 half steps. Switch it up but this is a great way to create some tension in the track.
 
I now its a an old thread, but what does the rest of the people do? I mean there are more techniques than this...can anybody mention some?....I usually go down to the R minor to but, i would like to know som diff techniques
 
preciate the thread
still lost but i got alot of stuff to google now
 
its all about what it sounds like.. you think original producers sat around and asked their peers what chords to use to transition their verses to their chorus?
 
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