MusOsaurus

Form

Notes

There are two basic forms for most songs.  The first is called binary.  Binary means made of two parts.  When we are talking about music, different parts or sections are created when the melody changes.  To differentiate sections we use the letters of the alphabet beginning with "A".  The second section in the binary form is "B".  A binary song has two parts that are different from one another (AB). 

Listen to an AB example.

Many populr songs follow this form.  In this case the form is renamed "verse-refrain".  The song consists of verses in which the lyrics change from verse to verse, alternating with a chorus that is repeated.  The song is most likely musically in binary form.  While the lyrics may change the music does not. 

The second form is called ternary, meaning three parts.  In this form the song begins with an "A" theme, progresses to a "B" section and finishes with a repeat or variation of the "A" section (ABA). Some ternary songs will repeat the first section to create and AABA form.  This is a variation of the ternary form. 

Listen to an ABA example.

Listen to an AABA example.

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