Having a Song Baby Part 3, A Free Mini Course

Now to the bridge.  Listen, all this stuff refers to something that is totally subjective.  Music is art. Art is subjective so, take it for what it is worth.

There is not a whole lot to say about the bridge of a song except to say that it can be approached in a few different ways.  Some artists use the bridge to communicate a transition, some use it to communicate a link to an earlier emotion or part of the song, some use it as a breakdown before the climax, and some use it to convey a totally different emotion and vibe altogether.   

1- The transition

     Some bridges are written to transition the song from one part to the next, a simple, short piece, that reflects the direction of change.  If the key of the song is major and the final part of the song is in the minor, then the bridge may be written in the ascending major, or the Dorian mode, to convey a bit of melancholy but not an overwhelming feeling of sadness.  If the song transitions from one instrument orchestration to another, the bridge may simply be a measure or two of music with the transitioning instrumentation being added in.  There are many ways to use a transition bridge.

2- The link

     Some bridges are a link to an earlier verse in the song.  Sometimes if you want to drive home the idea in an earlier verse of the song, you can use a bridge that nods toward the earlier verse or idea.  These can be very effective when using modulation to a higher key to repeat the earlier verse entirely, using a part of the verse, or even a similar chord progression and similar melody.  These tend to be a little longer but they are not meant to be lingered on too much as the focus really is the earlier idea being repeated.

3- The Breakdown

     A breakdown can be a very effective technique to amp up an audience and get them participating in the music.  Often times the breakdown bridge is the chorus with only percussion which leads to a higher energy climax in the song. The breakdown bridge can also be a completely different segment of the song altogether, using different instrumentation and a different melody that is written around the melody in the song.  One effective technique for this is to switch from a major key in the song, to its relative minor for the breakdown bridge. 

4- The Switch

     The switch is a technique used to totally change the flow, feeling, and setting of a song.  The switch bridge is usually longer and stands alone within a piece of music as something separate but related in some way.  Hey Jude by The Beatles is a great example of this technique.  The song totally changes its emotion midway through, and the rest of the song finishes out in the bridge, which builds in intensity until the end.   

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps.

Stay tuned for the final lesson in the mini series.  If you haven’t already, please hit the subscribe button at the top of the page. And please help me get the word out by sharing this on social media.

Thanks again!

Ryan