What is a verse in a song?
A verse is the part of a song that tells the story. Its melody and chords come back each time, but its words change, while the chorus keeps the same words. Verses are usually calmer than the chorus, so the chorus lifts when it arrives.
Usually 8 bars · 8 or 16 bars; rap verses are usually 16
Where the verse goes
After the intro, and again after each chorus. Most songs have two verses, and many rap songs three.
The verse, lit on a pop song map at 110 BPM.
A pop beat across all 72 bars, with a marker at each section, to change part by part. No account needed to start.
How long is a verse?
A verse usually runs 8 bars (8 or 16 bars; rap verses are usually 16). In seconds, that depends on the tempo:
| Tempo | 8 bars | 16 bars |
|---|---|---|
| 90 BPM | 21 s | 43 s |
| 110 BPM | 17 s | 35 s |
| 128 BPM | 15 s | 30 s |
How to make a verse
- Leave room: fewer parts and less going on than in the chorus, so the chorus can grow.
- Keep the melody lower, or the rhythm closer to speech, than the chorus.
- Change the words and keep the music: verse 2 plays the same chords as verse 1.
- In rap, write 16 bars, two halves of 8; a short verse is 8 or 12 bars.
Questions about the verse
How many bars is a verse?
Usually 8 or 16. In rap, 16 bars is the standard verse, about 43 seconds at 90 BPM; a guest verse is often 16 too, sometimes 8.
How many lines are in a verse?
Often four to eight, each line taking one or two bars. A 16-bar rap verse has about 16 lines, one a bar.
What is the difference between a verse and a chorus?
A verse changes its words each time and tells the story. The chorus repeats the same words and carries the song’s main idea, usually with more going on and the catchiest melody.
Other parts of a song
Map out a song
The free editor opens with a pop beat laid out as a whole song, a marker at each section. Change any part, add one, or take one away.
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