Purpose of a Pre-Chorus in Modern Rock Songs

Video Transcript

"The next ingredient to writing a good rock song, and the development of the structure, is a thing called the pre-chorus. Now, the pre-chorus, I will admit, of all the things that you're going to do between the chorus, the verse, the bridge, and maybe a guitar riff, the pre-chorus might not be the most important section; however, if you are going to include it in the song, all aspects are going to be important. And the pre-chorus is really going to help you move along, in the transition from the verse into the chorus. Now, in talking about the purpose of the pre-chorus, as opposed to the bridge, which is really a break, even though it's called a bridge, which is kind of confusing, the pre-chorus is really a way for you to transition rhythmically, music wise and kind of content wise, from the verse into the chorus. And, if we remember right, our, in writing rock music, one of the things, one of the really big and important elements to writing rock music, is to develop a theme that fits with your generation, and a theme that is counter-cultural and progressive. And the pre-chorus is almost a way of kind of either restating the problem in a different way, in a way that almost seems hopeless. It's almost like you want to get it to a point where it's hopeless, and then the chorus comes in, and you're like, "Oh my gosh. Alright, there it is. There's the solution. Let's go out and do this." Or, the pre-chorus should at least be something that gives hints about what the chorus is going to bring. So as far as the theme goes, and as far as the purpose and where it fits, both musically and content wise within the song, that it wants, you want it to be a good transition from your verse to your chorus, and a good way to either make your chorus stand out or to flow the problem stated within the verse to the solution stated within the chorus."