Song Structure Template

Want a song that grabs attention by bar eight and holds it for the whole run? Good. You are in the right place. This guide gives you done for you templates, actual time stamps, industry friendly strategies, and idiot proof ways to plug your idea into a structure that works on streaming platforms, radio, and social video. We will explain every term as if you are talking to your coolest friend who still forgets what BPM means. You will leave with copyable maps and a workflow that turns an idea into a finished demo without wasting a weekend crying into raw files.

Everything here is written for artists who want practical, actionable templates. We will cover standard structures, micro templates for viral moments, templates for long form storytelling, and detailed notes on how each section functions. We will also explain common acronyms like BPM and DAW and show you real life scenarios so the theory actually sticks.

Why structure matters more than you think

Structure is the scaffolding that makes your song readable. Even the wildest indie tracks benefit from a clear roadmap. Structure tells the listener when to brace, when to sing along, and when to pull their phone out and add your chorus to a playlist. On streaming services the first minute is the billboard. On TikTok the first three seconds decide whether someone keeps watching. A strong structure makes sure your best line shows up when it will do the most damage.

Real life example

• You are at a rehearsal and you have a killer four bar vocal riff. If you place that riff in a chorus that shows up at 0:32 the band will know to tighten everything up for that moment. If you hide it in a long verse nobody remembers it after the set.
• You want a 15 second TikTok clip. If your hook lands at 0:45 in a four minute arrangement it will never get clipped. Structure helps you plan the hook placement so it can be used for short form virality.

Basic building blocks of song structure

Before templates let us define the parts. If you already know these skip ahead. We explain each term and give a one line real life scenario so the word stops feeling like a distant cousin at a wedding.

Intro

What it is: Opening bars that set mood and sonic identity. It can be instrumental or vocal. Real life scenario: You are scanning tracks at 1.5 speed. A hook in the intro stops you from scrolling. Aim for eight bars or less for streaming friendliness.

Verse

What it is: The storytelling part. Verses move the plot forward and provide detail. Real life scenario: You put in a brand name, a time of night, and a tiny object to make the listener picture the scene. That object will make the chorus land harder.

Pre chorus

What it is: A short climb that increases tension and points to the chorus. Real life scenario: It is the belly breath before you scream the title. Use shorter words, rising melody, and tighter rhythm to create a sense of urgency.

Chorus

What it is: The main idea and hook. Repeatable and memorable. Real life scenario: This is the line fans will text to their ex. Make it singable and easy to hum. Place your title here.

Post chorus

What it is: A short repeated motif after the chorus. It can be melodic or a chant. Real life scenario: Think of the "whoa" or the small melodic tag that people hum between chorus repeats. It helps with cut up clips on social video.

Bridge or middle eight

What it is: A contrasting section that offers new lyrical or musical information. Real life scenario: You tell the listener one twist in the story or change the key color for emotional shock value. Keep it short and decisive.

Breakdown

What it is: A sparse or stripped moment that creates space before a big return. Real life scenario: The DJ kills half the instruments and you feel the floor drop. Use this to highlight a lyric or introduce a new sonic texture.

Outro

What it is: Finishing bars that either fade or offer a final statement. Real life scenario: The ear likes a final image. Leave one repeated line or a small musical tag that works as a send off.

Common acronyms explained

• BPM means beats per minute. It tells you how fast the song is. Example: 120 BPM is a common pop tempo that sits in the middle of the road and feels comfortable for dancing and singing along.
• DAW means digital audio workstation. It is the software where you record and arrange music like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or FL Studio. Scenario: Your DAW is the digital studio you hide in when you should be eating breakfast.
• MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is the language that lets keyboards and software talk to each other so you can change a piano to a synth sound without re-recording. Scenario: MIDI lets you fix a bad piano take without crying.
• RADIO FRIENDLY means formatted for mainstream radio play. It usually implies a clear chorus, short intro, and runtime between two and four minutes. Scenario: If you want DJs to keep your song in rotation you will plan your hook early and avoid a minute long build.

Three essential rules for any template

• Get the hook in quickly. Aim for a memorable melodic or lyrical moment inside the first 30 to 45 seconds.
• Use contrast. The chorus should feel bigger either harmonically, melodically, or texturally than the verse.
• Leave space. The ear needs breathing room to remember the chorus. Do not cram everything into every bar.

Core templates you can copy and paste

Below are ready to use templates that suit most pop, indie, hip hop, R and B, and EDM tracks. Each template includes a suggested runtime and where to place your hook for maximum impact.

Template A: Classic pop radio template

Structure map

• Intro 0:00 to 0:08
• Verse 1 0:08 to 0:32
• Pre chorus 0:32 to 0:44
• Chorus 0:44 to 1:04
• Verse 2 1:04 to 1:28
• Pre chorus 1:28 to 1:40
• Chorus 1:40 to 2:00
• Bridge 2:00 to 2:20
• Final chorus double 2:20 to 3:00
• Outro tag 3:00 to 3:10

Why it works: Hook hits by 0:44 which is inside the first minute. Verses are tight so energy does not stall. The double chorus at the end gives radio friendly payoff. Use this when you want mainstream reach.

Template B: TikTok first second friendly template

Structure map

• Intro with hook fragment 0:00 to 0:05
• Chorus 0:05 to 0:25
• Verse 0:25 to 0:50
• Chorus 0:50 to 1:10
• Post chorus tag 1:10 to 1:18
• Repeat chorus or drop for looped version 1:18 to 1:40

Why it works: The hook is teased in the intro and delivered inside five seconds. This is ideal for 15 second and 30 second clips so creators can jump on it immediately.

Template C: Singer songwriter story template

Structure map

• Intro 0:00 to 0:12 guitar or piano
• Verse 1 0:12 to 0:44
• Chorus 0:44 to 1:04
• Verse 2 1:04 to 1:36
• Bridge or middle eight 1:36 to 1:56
• Final chorus 1:56 to 2:40 with lyrical variation
• Outro 2:40 to 3:00 soft landing

Why it works: This template gives space for narrative detail. Keep the chorus short and repeatable. Use lyrical shifts in the final chorus so the listener feels the arc complete.

Template D: EDM drop map

Structure map

• Intro DJ motif 0:00 to 0:16
• Build 0:16 to 0:48
• Drop 0:48 to 1:08
• Breakdown 1:08 to 1:36 vocal pass
• Build 1:36 to 2:08
• Big drop 2:08 to 2:38
• Outro 2:38 to 2:58

Why it works: Drops should hit like a payoff. The vocal pass in the breakdown gives the listener something to sing at home. Use melodic callbacks from the chorus in the drop if you want crossover appeal.

Template E: Hip hop verse centric template

Structure map

• Intro 0:00 to 0:06 beat or vocal tag
• Verse 1 0:06 to 0:48
• Chorus or hook 0:48 to 1:12
• Verse 2 1:12 to 1:54
• Bridge or hook variation 1:54 to 2:10
• Verse 3 or outro verse 2:10 to 3:00

Why it works: Hip hop can afford longer verses. Still place your hook early. A vocal tag in the intro helps producers and playlist curators remember your artist brand.

How to choose the right template for your song

Ask three questions

1. What is the primary objective? Are you aiming for streaming numbers, storytelling, radio, or a dance floor moment?
2. How long should the listener stay? Short attention demands faster payoff. Longer attention lets you breathe.
3. What is the killer moment? Place it where the platform and listener behavior match. TikTok wants first five seconds. Radio wants the hook in the first minute.

Real life matching

• If your killer moment is a four word chant that would be viral, use the TikTok friendly template so it appears early.
• If your song builds slowly to reveal a plot twist, choose the singer songwriter template and accept a longer runtime while still placing a micro hook early.
• If the song is drop heavy and you want DJs to play it, follow the EDM map and treat the drop as the chorus.

Detailed section writing tips

Intro tips

• Keep it short for streaming. Under eight bars unless you are making a mood piece.
• Use an intro hook to tease the chorus if you need early recognition.
• If you have a signature sound like a vocal chop make it appear in bar two so the ear grabs an identity cue.

Verse tips

• Give new details each verse. Do not repeat the exact same image unless the line is exquisitely crafted.
• Keep vocal range moderate so the chorus can feel like a lift.
• Use internal rhyme and alliteration as rhythm devices without forcing rhymes that ruin prosody.

Pre chorus tips

• Shorten syllable length and raise melody into a narrower range to create tension.
• Use it as a bridge between narrative and hook. It can contain the implied title before the full chorus reveals the statement.

Chorus tips

• Make the title short and repeat it. The ear remembers repetition.
• Use open vowels on the important words so singers can sustain without clenching their jaw.
• Limit complex language. Simplicity is your friend.

Post chorus tips

• Use it as a memory glue. One or two bar tag repeated works best for social sharing.
• Sometimes the post chorus is the real hook. Example: a repeated syllable or a melodic motif that people replicate in user generated clips.

Bridge tips

• Give new information. A bridge that repeats facts already stated adds fatigue.
• Change chords, melody, or texture. Contrast is the point.

Outro tips

• Give the listener a single final image or motif to hum out the door.
• For streaming make the outro short. Extended fade outs waste playtime unless they are artistically necessary.

Micro templates for viral hooks and clips

Not every track needs a full form. Here are compressed maps for short format success.

15 second clip template

• 0:00 to 0:02 tease hook phrase
• 0:02 to 0:12 full hook line
• 0:12 to 0:15 small tag or laugh

30 second clip template

• 0:00 to 0:05 intro hook fragment
• 0:05 to 0:20 chorus or catchy melodic line
• 0:20 to 0:30 drop in a punchline or change of chord to prompt looped listening

These micro templates will help songwriters place a killer second for creators to clip. It should feel complete in isolation while also connecting to the full song.

Practical fillable templates

Copy these into your DAW or write them on a napkin. Replace bracket text with your actual content.

Fillable pop radio template

• Intro 8 bars: [instrument motif]
• Verse 1 16 bars: [object, time, place] end with a small unresolved line
• Pre chorus 8 bars: [build energy, hint at title]
• Chorus 16 bars: [Title here] repeat once add one image on last line
• Verse 2 16 bars: [new detail, raise stakes]
• Pre chorus 8 bars
• Chorus 16 bars
• Bridge 8 to 16 bars: [contrast, new chord or key color]
• Chorus double 32 bars: [add harmonies and final change in last eight bars]
• Outro 8 bars: [tag phrase repeat]

Fillable TikTok friendly template

• Intro 4 bars: [vocal syllable or percussive tag]
• Chorus 16 bars: [hook placed at bar 2]
• Verse 16 bars: [optional extended story for full track]
• Chorus 16 bars
• Post chorus tag 4 bars for clips

Arrangement and production notes tied to structure

Structure and production are married. A great chorus needs a production plan that makes it feel bigger. Here are quick ways to lift sections through arrangement choices.

• Make the chorus wider by adding doubled vocals, wider panned instruments, or a synth pad.
• Create contrast by pulling elements out in the verse. A sparse verse makes the chorus landing feel bigger.
• Use frequency carving. Remove competing instruments from the vocal frequency band in the verse so the ear notices the chorus arrival when the band fills that band again.
• Use automation to raise energy across repeats. Add a subtle increase in reverb time or saturation to the final chorus to make it feel climactic.

Cadence and harmonic considerations

Where you end a section matters as much as what comes next.

• End a verse on a chord that wants to move. If the chorus is major bright choose a pre chorus that cadences in a way that makes that major feel like resolution.
• Try deceptive cadences in the bridge for surprise. A deceptive cadence means you expect one chord but get another. It wakes the listener up.
• If you want tension before the chorus try a suspended chord at the end of the pre chorus so the chorus resolves with huge satisfaction.

How to time stamp your song for modern platforms

Streaming metrics reward engagement. Time stamping is planning where the hook lives so it can be discovered.

• TikTok and social video: Aim for a hook within the first five to eight seconds.
• Spotify playlists and radio editors: Aim for a full hook inside the first 45 to 60 seconds.
• Club and DJ tracks: The drop or hook should be predictable within 45 to 60 seconds so DJs can mix out or in easily.

Practical tip: When you export a preview, make sure the first 15 seconds includes the most repeatable part of the chorus or a clear hook. That preview will be what a curator hears first.

Common structure mistakes and how to fix them

• Too long before the hook. Fix by moving the title or the hook motif earlier and trimming the intro.
• Chorus does not lift. Fix by increasing vocal range, simplifying lyrics, or widening production.
• Verses feel like filler. Fix by adding a specific time or object in each verse so the story evolves.
• No contrast between sections. Fix by changing texture, rhythm, or instrumentation between verse and chorus.

Examples with lyric snippets and placements

These mini examples show how to slot words into a template so prosody and timing work.

Example 1 pop chorus placement

Title: Leave My Line

• Intro 0:00 to 0:06: hook vocal "la la leave" under a filtered synth
• Verse 0:06 to 0:30: "Your hoodie on the floor, your empty cup beside the sink"
• Pre chorus 0:30 to 0:42: "I count the missed calls one two three"
• Chorus 0:42 to 1:02: "Leave my line, leave my line, do not make me call you back tonight"

Example 2 TikTok viral line

Title: Snap Back

• Intro 0:00 to 0:03: percussive snap and whisper "snap back"
• Chorus 0:03 to 0:18: "Snap back, I got no time to wait, watch me glow while you hesitate"
• Tag 0:18 to 0:22: staccato snap pattern for creators to loop

How to edit structure quickly when a song drags

1. Find the earliest repeatable moment that feels like an earworm. Mark its time stamp.
2. If that moment is after one minute consider moving part of the verse forward or trimming the intro.
3. Listen to the song without lyrics. If the energy feels like a staircase with too many steps, remove one step by cutting an eight bar section.
4. Test the new version with three people who do not know the song. If they can hum the hook after one listen you are winning.

Songwriting workflow that respects structure

Use this workflow to finish songs faster while making structure decisions early.

1. Write a one sentence core promise for the song. This becomes your chorus thesis.
2. Place that sentence on a strong rhythmic moment at bar 16 or earlier in your template.
3. Draft a verse around a single object and a time crumb. Keep it specific.
4. Build a pre chorus that tightens syllables and points to the thesis.
5. Record a rough demo with the chorus placed where you planned. Export a 30 second clip that includes the hook.
6. Test the clip on socials or with friends. Adjust placement if the early attention is low.

When to break all the rules

Rules are guides. Break them only if breaking them serves a clear artistic purpose. If your song is a mood piece that needs a two minute intro to establish soundscape do it. If you are creating an ambient track for a film the streaming rules are irrelevant. But if your goal is discoverability and radio or playlist placement follow the structure templates above. Be intentional about every rule you break and be ready to explain why breaking is better than following.

Actionable templates to copy into your next demo

Three copy ready snippets. Paste into a doc, replace bracketed text and record.

Action template one

• Intro 8 bars: [signature synth motif]
• Verse 1 16 bars: [object, time, small action] end unresolved
• Pre chorus 8 bars: [rising phrase, hint title]
• Chorus 16 bars: [title on long note, repeat twice]
• Post chorus 4 bars: [tag melodic line]
• Verse 2 16 bars
• Chorus 16 bars
• Bridge 8 bars
• Chorus double 32 bars with added harmony

Action template two for social focus

• Intro 4 bars: [vocal felicity or percussive tag]
• Chorus 16 bars: [hook appears by bar 2]
• Verse 16 bars: [add story for full track]
• Chorus 16 bars
• Tag 4 bars

Song Structure FAQ

What is the best structure for a radio friendly song

A classic verse pre chorus chorus verse pre chorus chorus bridge double chorus and short outro works well. Aim to place a clear hook within the first minute. Keep runtimes between two and four minutes for best radio and playlist compatibility.

How do I make a hook appear early without sounding rushed

Tease a fragment of the hook in the intro and then deliver the full hook by the end of the first chorus. Use a short intro motif that borrows the chorus rhythm so the ear recognizes the full hook when it arrives.

Is it okay to have long verses

Yes if your genre allows it and the verses carry strong details. In many modern pop and hip hop tracks longer verses work. Still place a strong repeated hook early to catch casual listeners.

Where should I put my song title

Place the title in the chorus on a strong beat and ideally on a long vowel so it is singable. Repeat it as a ring phrase at the start and end of the chorus if it fits naturally.

How do I structure a song for TikTok virality

Deliver the most repeatable lyrical or melodic moment inside the first five to eight seconds. Keep a short tag that creators can lip sync to or dance to. Make that moment easy to sample alone from the full track.

What is a post chorus and when should I use it

A post chorus is a short repeated motif after the main chorus. Use it when you have a melodic earworm that is not the entire chorus or when you want a chant like memory glue for social clips.

How long should an intro be for streaming platforms

Keep the intro under eight bars for most releases. Streaming listeners have limited patience. If you need longer make sure a hook fragment appears early in the intro so casual listeners get enough to latch onto.

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