This more complex harmonic treatment offers a modification from the first presentation of that melody, and also increases the basic energy of the line.Īnd that’s probably the most important lesson to absorb concerning using a compound chorus melody.
When this melody returns at 0’52, the implied harmonies change, with the bass oscillating between B, C and A. For example, at 0′ 32″, the very minimal harmony implied is a pedal bass on E. In this song, melody 2, which starts the first set of choruses at 0′ 32″, seems to contain a bit more song energy than melody 3, which is, compositionally, a good reason to end the choruses with melody 2.Īnother feature of note: Each time melody 2 repeats within the same chorus, the harmonic treatment changes. The first thing you notice about compound chorus melodies is that they each tend to be fairly static harmonically. For each incarnation of the chorus, we get a melody 2 -> melody 3 -> melody 2 sequence. The intro of the song uses melody 1, essentially a call-and-response kind of melody which doesn’t recur again until the second set of choruses at 2’ 30″. The chorus in this song is actually comprised of three different melodies:ġ) “All the single ladies” (B-B-B-B-B-E… G#-F#-E-F#-G#-E…)Ģ) “‘Cause if you like it then you should have put a ring on it” (B-B-B-B-A-A-A-A-G#-G#-G#-G#-F#-F#…)ģ) “Oh oh oh…” (B-G#-E-E-F#-G#-F#-E-E-E-F#-G#…) Repeat of intro, then repeat of chorus material “Don’t treat me to the things of the world…” Complete change of melodic material, change of lyrical message (“I’m not that kind of girl…”) “If you like it… Oh, oh, oh… if you like it…” Repeat of first chorus
“I got gloss on my lips…” Same energy as Verse 1 “If you like it… Oh, oh, oh… if you like it…” Higher energy level that resembles intro “Up in the club, we just broke up…” Lower energy level from lower vocal range “All the single ladies…” high energy level But be careful: thought needs to be given to how one progresses to the next.įirst, let’s take a quick look at the formal design of “Single Ladies”: 0’00” Intro With such a chorus, each melody could exist on its own, though they are usually shorter than most chorus melodies.
Written by Gary Ewer, from “ The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website.Ĭheck out Gary Ewer’s songwriting e-books– Get the most out of your songwriting abilities, and start writing hit songs!Ī compound chorus is one which uses two or more distinct melodies and lyrics, each of which include the necessary characteristics of a chorus.
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