Join Julian Velard for an in-depth discussion in this video The refrain song form element, part of Music Theory for Songwriters: The Fundamentals.
- In the era of American Songbook,…the term refrain was synonymous with chorus.…In today's music, we see the refrain most often…in simpler verse-based song forms.…Bob Dylan is one of the greatest users of refrains.…"Blowin' in the Wind" and "Don't Think Twice,…It's All Right" are two excellent examples.…Typically the verse is 16 bars.…The refrain will come in the final 4 bars of the verse.…Whereas the hook is merely catchy,…the refrain differs as it will inform the song,…give it new meaning.…
The refrain and the hook for that matter…is often confused with the chorus…because sometimes it is the chorus.…When Mick Jagger sings…"I Can't Get No Satisfaction," it serves as…the refrain and the chorus at the same time.…But while the chorus and the verse are…structural elements of a song,…the refrain and the hook are functional elements.…
Author
Julian Velard
Released
9/18/2015Professional musician Julian Velard starts the course with the building blocks of harmony: notes, scales, intervals, chords, inversions, and basic chord progressions. He then goes into voice leading—showing how to move from one chord to another by changing just one or two notes—and reviews common song forms, from the familiar verse/chorus/verse of pop to the simple verse of the blues. At the end of each chapter, Julian explains the songwriting techniques shown in the chapter within the context of his own original commercially released songs.
- Understanding scales, intervals, and keys
- Triads or three-note chords
- Triad inversions
- Common major-scale chord progressions and cadences
- Voice leading
- Song form elements such as verse, chorus, bridge, hook, and more
- Using common song forms in songwriting
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 31s
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1. The Building Blocks of Harmony
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The octave4m 12s
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Intervals: Major and perfect7m 20s
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The concept of key3m 12s
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Figuring out intervals6m 33s
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2. Triads and Chord Progressions
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Triads: The basics of chords7m 48s
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Triad inversions6m 40s
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Voicing6m 38s
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Authentic cadences5m 32s
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3. Chord Progressions and Voice Leading
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What is voice leading?5m 28s
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The suspended chord5m 11s
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4. Song Forms
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The importance of song form2m 34s
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Beats, bars, and phrases5m 54s
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The chorus song form element1m 23s
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Verse/chorus/bridge forms1m 19s
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Simple verse form2m 2s
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Verse without chorus form1m 18s
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AABA 32-bar form1m 24s
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Through-composed song forms1m 26s
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Looking at a song's form5m 53s
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Conclusion
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Next steps1m 16s
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Video: The refrain song form element