Change is the Key!

Dennis R. Sinnott

Some songwriters put in a key change immediately after the intro so that the opening verse has a "lifting effect" thus creating immediate interest. You can, of course, use a key change on the first chorus. This often works well if you have a strong melody. Others have the verse in a minor key then change into the major on the bridge or chorus. This helps to boost the hook and keep the listeners' attention. This is fine, sometimes, but be warned! If the verse runs on too long the listener may well lose interest altogether before the "big hook" arrives!

However you compose your song, always try to avoid the same chord pattern for both verse and chorus. To do so may well dilute the effect of the hooks in the links of the song.

The trick, then, is being able to keep the listener's interest throughout the whole song. Any changes must fall neatly into place without jarring or irritating the listener. The art of a good writer is to be able to put a song together with skill and dexterity so that, like a finely tuned engine, each part must fits perfectly complimenting and harmonizing with the next and compliment the next to make the engine purr!

In composing your song, the point of linkage cannot be over stressed. The change of pattern between verse and chorus is, as I have said earlier, crucial. This is the basis for having a "bridge".

From:  http://www.MastersOfSongwriting.com