intro

formIN-trohfrom English (from Latin introductio)

The opening section of a song that establishes mood, key, and tempo before the vocals enter.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌

In Depth

Intros range from a single drum hit to elaborate instrumental passages.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌ In pop music, intros have shrunk dramatically from 20+ seconds in the 1980s to under 5 seconds in the streaming era, as artists compete for listener attention. Classic intro types include the guitar riff intro, the fade-in, the a cappella vocal opening, and the count-in. A strong intro creates anticipation and establishes the song's identity.

Did you know?

Streaming economics have driven intro lengths down; studies show many listeners skip within 5 seconds, pushing songwriters to start with the hook immediately.

Related Terms

outro verse hook riff

More in Form

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AABA form

A 32-bar song form consisting of four 8-bar sections: two statements of the theme, a contrasting bridge, and a return

alap

The slow, meditative opening section of an Indian classical raga performance, exploring the raga without rhythm.

arch form

A palindromic musical structure that mirrors itself around a central axis, typically ABCBA

aria

A self-contained song for a solo voice, typically in an opera or oratorio.

ars antiqua

A period of medieval Western music from approximately 1170 to 1310, characterized by the development of early polyphony.

ars nova

A musical style of the late medieval period (c. 1310–1377), notable for its rhythmic innovation and increased complexity.

bagatelle

A short, light piano piece, often of modest technical demands

bass drop

A dramatic moment in electronic music where a deep, sub-bass frequency is suddenly introduced.

Keep Exploring

outro→verse→hook→riff→