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The Beauty of the Bridge in Music (+ Example Songs to Hear)

By admin | September 8, 2021 |

The Beauty of the Bridge in Music (+ Example Songs to Hear) - Sheet Music Now

There are so many different kinds of music. Whether you listen to online music streaming sites, prefer satellite radio, or keep it old school with regular local radio stations, you can always catch a variety of tunes. Some may have lyrics, some may not. You may find everything from pop, r&b, hip hop, rock, alternative, folk/ Americana, easy listening, oldies, classic rock, Christian, reggae, soca, and so much more. You may have a favorite genre or you may like a little of everything and choose what you listen to based on your mood. Music comes in all different types.

Here’s the thing, though. All music – regardless of what type it is – can be broken down into sections. And the bridge? Well, let’s just say that the bridge in music can be the most memorable part.

The Musical Sections

Before we can just jump and talk about the beauty of the bridge, it is important to know the different sections of a song so that you are better able to determine the bridge. See, each section can be viewed as its own individual contribution to a piece. When combined all together, it sounds wonderful. But each section cannot survive on its own. That is why it is referred to as a section.

Some of the most common sections used are:

      • Introduction
      • Exposition
      • Development
      • Recapitulation
      • Verse
      • Chorus (also known as the refrain)
      • Conclusion
      • Coda
      • Fadeout
      • Bridge
      • Interlude

Some songs only use one or two of these sections, others use more. And you can use each section more than once, as well. Though, most songs you hear on the radio today follow this pattern: Verse – Chorus – Verse – Chorus – Bridge – Chorus. You may be surprised to sometimes find the bridge at the end of the song, too.

What is a Bridge in Music?

The bridge of a song, commonly found near the end, is a section that takes a new spin on the song. It gives you a different way of viewing the song. Sometimes taking it a bit deeper. And it almost always changes up the song both lyrically and methodically. It also is designed to give variety to the song as well as connect different sections of it.

Let’s take a moment to visually understand what a bridge is. Pretend you are driving home from a long day at work. You know the roads and the scenery because you drive it every single day, to and from work. On this particular day, you decide to take an alternate route. It is still going to get you home, but you have never checked it out.

As you drive, you come across fields of wildflowers and peaceful surroundings — both much better than the traffic on the highway. But before you can get too lost in the quietness, you meet back up with the road right before your exit to home.

This little alternate route still got you to where you were going, it just changed things up a bit, right? That’s how a bridge in a song works.

The Inner Workings of a Bridge

The bridge within a piece of music may have lyrics, but it doesn’t have to. Very commonly the bridge will be an instrumental section. Think Slash’s famous guitar solos throughout Guns ‘n Roses music, such as November Rain. It is safe to say that the instrumental versions of bridges are where the idea of air guitar was created.

The bridge is that part that we wait for, that gets us right in the pit of the stomach when we listen to our fav song. We often anticipate it as soon as the song begins!

A bridge can have an alternate:

Rhythm. Switching up the rhythm using different beats or sounds can lead many to favor the bridge as the best part of a sound.

Melody. A bridge with a melody should be different from the verses and the chorus. It should flow differently, too.

Chord Structure. When it comes to chords and bridges, if the song overall is in a major chord, then the bridge should be minor. Or the other way around. It needs to stand out.

Adding a Bridge to Your Music

If you are experimenting musically and want to add a beautiful bridge to your music, then you may be getting a good idea about how to do so thus far. But, to give you a little more insight, here are a few tips for writing a bridge for your song.

      1. Put it in the right place. That means, putting the bridge after the second chorus in the format we discussed above, Verse – Chorus – Verse – Chorus – Bridge – Chorus. Having it in the right place means letting the listener know that the song is reaching the top of the hill and getting ready to go rolling to the end on the other side of the bridge.
      2. Change up the melody. Remember, if you choose to use words, they need to drive home your message – without using the same words that are in the chorus or the verses.
      3. Make it subtle. You want the bridge to be a powerful part of the song, but sometimes trying too hard to make it powerful can overdo it. If your chorus is catchy and powerful, keep your bridge subtle.
      4. Keep it flowing. Just because the bridge is a different section of the song doesn’t mean it should stand out like a sore thumb. Rather, it should blend and flow from one section to the next. If it doesn’t, then rework it.

Songs With Bridges You Need to Listen To

If you truly want to get to understand the beauty of the bridge in music, then you need to experience bridges of all kinds. Be comfortable picking them out and see how they work with the rest of the song. Here are a few examples you really need to listen to.

Can you pick out the bridge on any of your favorite songs? The more you pay attention, the more you will come to appreciate this important part of a song.

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