AABA Songwriter Project Part 1

You will be writing a song in the AABA format like this:

This type of song has an opening section (A), a bridge (B) before transitioning to the final A section. This song form is used in a variety of music genres including pop, gospel and jazz.

Construction:

The classic AABA song form can be illustrated as such:
A = 8 bars
A = 8 bars
B = 8 bars
A = 8 bars

• You'll notice that it has 32 bars all in all. 
• The first and second A sections are composed of verses which are the SAME in melody but different in lyrics. 
• This is followed by the bridge (B) which is musically and lyrically different than the A sections.
•  The melody, harmony, bass, and drums of the bridge is DIFFERENT from the A section MELODY.
• The bridge gives the song contrast before transitioning to the final A section.

Song Samples:

AABA Song Form - "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

First A: Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
Second A: Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
B Section: Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Final A: Someday over the rainbow bluebirds fly...
This song also has a short "Coda" or ending.

Other Examples of AABA song form:
Deck the Halls

 "Crazy" (1961, Patsy Cline, by Willie Nelson) 

"That'll Be The Day" (1958, Buddy Holly)
"Great Balls of Fire" (Jerry Lee Lewis)

"From Me To You" (1963, The Beatles, Paul McCartney and John Lennon) 

Part 1: Planning Title and Meaning
Complete the Part 1 Songwriting Planning Handout using the information below.

Choose a Theme
Here is a HUGE list of songwriting themes. Choose one or make up a theme of your own.  Remember to write about your own experience.

Title / Main Hook 

The title in an AABA song can be used in three main ways:

• The first line of the verse
• The last line in the verse
• Both the first and last line of the verse

(Sometimes the title / main hook will also appear within the bridge section.)

Create a Title that will HOOK your listener.  Choose from the list above how you will include it in your song.

Planning Your AABA Song

It is a good idea to have a clear outline that can be used to develop your idea clearly and help you to convey it concisely. Plan what the purpose of each A section is, and what you want it to convey. The bridge section is a great place to make a point to make relating to the hook. The fact that the B section contrasts melodically and rhythmically from the A sections helps the point to stand out and be set apart from the rest of the song.

The natural flow and uninterrupted development of the AABA Song Form lends itself beautifully to one of the following formulas:

Basic

Verse 1 - Introduce an idea

Verse 2 - Develop the idea

Bridge - Offer a different perspective, omitting the title

Verse 3 - Conclusion

Problem-Solution

Verse 1 - Identify the problem

Verse 2 - Elaborate on the problem -- what caused it?

Bridge - Discuss the solution to the problem

Verse 3 - Talk about where we go from here. In a sad song, this is where we offer hope.

Vignette

Use "word pictures" to suggest visual images to imagination of the listener. Keep them interested in and focused on the hook.

A common vignette development is to use a time-line:

Verse 1 - Set in the past

Verse 2 - Set in the present

Bridge

Verse 3 - Set in the future

or

Verse 1 - Set in the present

Verse 2 - Flashback to the past

Bridge

Verse 3 - Back in the present

Vignettes can use unrelated verses, except in the way they come to or develop the hook.

Yet again the B Section is the place to draw focus back to the core song concept.