Bridge in music is something all musicians have to learn when they are learning various musical skills. Different musical elements come together when creating a song. Different keys, rhythms, beats, etc. One of the elements for producing a song is the song structure. The song structure itself consists of various parts such as the chorus, verses, and pre-choruses. In this blog we will learn about one of the parts of a song structure; the bridge. Let’s begin.
What is a Bridge?
Let’s start from the very beginning and learn “What exactly is a “Bridge” in music. Just like the word suggests the bridge acts as a connector in the song. The initial use of term was first seen in Medieval German music during the the15th century.
The medieval Germans used the word “STEG”, which means a “bridge” in English.
What is the purpose or use of the “Bridge”?
Now that we know where the term “bridge” came from in music, let us all learn the purpose and the use of “Bridge” in a song.
- Acts as a connector: The bridge is that part of the song which acts as a transitional section that connects different sections of the song. It’s a musical passage as the name suggests it acts as a bridge; at the same time helps in breaking the repetitive nature of a song.
- Brings Variety to the Song: It adds contrast to the song by posing different chord progressions, rhythm, etc., and takes the song in a rather different direction. Thus, it is often used to add variety to the song.
- Middle 8: The “bridge” is generally written after a second Verse which then connects that verse to the Chorus or a Pre-Chorus. Remember that a song cannot or usually won’t when a bridge ends. The bridge works towards bringing the song back to its original theme and material.
- Creation of Layered Composition: The bridge helps in creating a layered composition with the bridge having something new in many of its aspects if not all. For instance, different tempos, lyrics, chord progression, etc.
- Brings in Tensity: It is basically the job of the bridge phrases to bring in a swell like an anti-climactic element just before a song concludes. Thus, it carries a certain amount of tension which makes the song more interesting and keeps the listener hooked to the song.
Duration of a Bridge in a Song
How long does the bridge last in a song?
You can expect a bridge to go on for at least 8 bars or more in a song. This like a 4 Phrases of words.
Did You Know?
Bridge is called Middle-8 because it is usually written for 8 bars and in the middle part of the song.
Bridge in Different Arrangements.
The bridge in a song can be placed in different positions according to the structure of the song. Song structures can have different formats. Let’s look at 2 such song formats and the placement of the bridge in the formats respectively.
AABA Format
The first format that we will look into is the AABA format.
In this format, A stands for the “chorus.” As we can see the following alphabet the chorus is repeated. Followed by B which stands for the “bridge.” The AABA format of a song is usually made up of 32 bars since the A and B sections are 8 bars long. Some examples of songs with AABA format are “Yesterday” (The Beatles, 1965, Paul McCartney), “Make You Feel My Love” (Bob Dylan, 1997), and Over the Rainbow (Harold Arien, 1939, Wizard of Oz).
ABABCB Format
Then we have the ABABCB format wherein A stands for the verse, B stands for the chorus and C stands for the bridge. We can see that the verse is first played and is followed by the chorus. Followed by another set of verses and choruses. After which the bridge is located. The bridge exactly like its name, connects the verse and the last chorus. A few examples of songs with ABABCB format are “What’s Love Got To Do With It” (Tina Turner, 1984), “Hot N Cold” (Katy Perry, 2008), and “Hotel California” (The Eagles, 1977)
Use of Bridge in Different Genres of Music.
Now that we know the varied placements of the bridge in a song. Let us look into how the bridge has been used in other Musical genres.
POP
Beginning with the most popular genre namely pop music. The bridge has been extensively used in Pop music, especially in the modern era and recent years. It has been seen that in today’s time the ABABCB format is widely chosen when selecting a song structure. The bridges produced in this genre may have a different chord progression, rhythm, beats, or tempo than the rest of the song. It might also have the same chord progression, rhythm, beats, or tempo.
Let me give an example of the Bridge in “Count On Me by Bruno Mars”
You’ll always have my
shoulder when you cry.
I’ll never let go,
Never say Goodbye!
You- u- u can,
This bridge is written for 8 bars and additional bar to connect the bridge to the Chorus.
Classical
Coming to one of the oldest genres of music. Classical music has long been incorporating bridges in its musical composition. The bridge in classical music can be prominently seen in the sonata form. The Sonata form is one of the musical styles in the classical genre alongside symphony and concerto.
A few examples of bridges in classical music are as follows Mozart Sonata in F Major, K.332, and also one of Bach’s works the Fugue in G Major, BWV 860.
Jazz
The final genre that we are going to touch upon is the genre of jazz music. It is seen the song structure used in jazz is generally in AABA format. Often time the bridge is where the musicians choose to add the swing pieces. The swing in jazz refers to a certain way of playing the rhythm. Which invokes an instinctive response to the beat by the listener.
The bridge of the song “A Kiss to Build A Dream On” (Van Morrison or Vera Lynn)
“When I’m alone with my fancies
I’ll be with you
Weaving romances
Making believe they’re true“
Also, the rendition of “Fly me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra has a bridge that is purely instrumental. Some famous examples of bridges in jazz are as follows “I Got The Rhythm” ( George Gershwin, 1930), Great Balls Of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis, 2003), and What I’ll Do(Irving Berlin, 1924 )
How to create a Bridge
So far, we have discussed the origin of the bridge, and the usual time the bridge lasts. We learned the use of the bridge in various areas such as in a song structure or song genre. Now we explore the ways in which one can write and compose a bridge on their own. To compose a good bridge follow the steps given below:
Choose a song structure
We have previously stated the importance of song structure when composing a song as well as in rap. If you want to learn more about rap do check out the article “How to rap.”
Choose a song structure that will assist you in placing bridge in its ideal place. For instance, if you choose the ABABCB format then putting the bridge after the second chorus can bring freshness to the song and can invoke the feeling of surprise in the hearts and minds of the listener.
Experiment with Different Chord Progression
When composing the bridge try to choose a chord progression that has a different key than the rest of the song. A different chord progression will provide you with contrast and help in dabbling with different moods within the song. Do remember the transition from the chorus to the bridge should be smooth. A rough transition is unpleasant and adds an unimpressive texture to the song.
Create a New Melody
One of the key features of a bridge is to take the song towards a different path . Do remember to create a melody that goes well with the new chord progression.
Write New Lyrics
To add more flavour to the song, write some new lyrics for the bridge. When creating a new melody and chord progression add new lyrics that will further enhance the theme of the song. You can see the new lyrics of the bridge as a new chapter to the story that the song is trying to tell.
Change the Rhythm and the Tempo
Putting new beats, changing the rhythm pattern, or changing the tempo helps in transforming the energy level of the song. Further, the change in the rhythm and the tempo can help in emphasizing the tone that one would like to give to their bridge.
Less is More
When composing a bridge try to be subtle. The purpose of a bridge is to bring freshness and contrast to the song. When doing so the bridge should be in harmony with the song and its theme. Remember the bridge should be complementary to the song.
Conclusion
You may not find bridges in every song. But if you want to convey different emotions, and tell a story with details and beautiful nuances through a song, then composing a bridge is the perfect way to do so. Bridges can have lyrics, or they might be purely instrumental it is purely up to the musician’s artistry. So, like the bridge keep connecting with different songs and music styles. Lastly, keep listening to music and singing.
