R&B song structure
R&B songs follow the pop shape at a laid-back tempo: verse, pre-chorus and chorus twice, a bridge, a last chorus, and often an outro of vocal ad-libs over the groove.
90 BPM · 68 bars · 3:01
An R&B beat across all 68 bars, with a marker at each section, to change part by part. No account needed to start.
The song map
Section by section, at 90 BPM. Every section is in bars of four beats; at 90 BPM, 8 bars is about 21 seconds.
| Section | Bars | Starts |
|---|---|---|
| IntroOpens the song and sets its tempo, key and mood. | 4 | 0:00bar 1 |
| Verse 1Tells the story: new words each time over the same music. | 8 | 0:11bar 5 |
| Pre-chorusBuilds from the verse toward the chorus. | 4 | 0:32bar 13 |
| ChorusThe same words each time: the song’s main idea and biggest part. | 8 | 0:43bar 17 |
| Verse 2Tells the story: new words each time over the same music. | 8 | 1:04bar 25 |
| Pre-chorus 2Builds from the verse toward the chorus. | 4 | 1:25bar 33 |
| Chorus 2The same words each time: the song’s main idea and biggest part. | 8 | 1:36bar 37 |
| BridgeComes once, late on, with new chords and words, before the last chorus. | 8 | 1:57bar 45 |
| Final chorusThe same words each time: the song’s main idea and biggest part. | 8 | 2:19bar 53 |
| OutroEnds the song, winding it down. | 8 | 2:40bar 61 |
How R&B songs are built
The groove stays steady and the voice does the building: harmonies stack up in the chorus, and the bridge is often where the singer goes highest. The outro lets the band keep playing while the singer ad-libs.
The sounds, chords and tempos are on the R&B page.
Questions about R&B song structure
How long is an R&B song?
This map is 68 bars, 3:01 at 90 BPM.
Make an R&B song
The free editor opens on this map: an R&B beat across 68 bars, a marker at each section. Change any section part by part: mute the drums in the intro, add a melody, each part its own lane.
Keep going
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