pre-chorus
A short section between the verse and chorus that builds anticipation for the chorus arrival.
In Depth
The pre-chorus emerged as a distinct structural element in pop songwriting during the 1980s and has become nearly ubiquitous in modern pop. It typically shifts the harmonic or melodic direction to create tension that resolves when the chorus arrives. Pre-choruses often feature rising melodic lines, building dynamics, or a shift in rhythm. They serve the same anticipatory function as a buildup in electronic music but in a song-based context.
Max Martin, the Swedish songwriter behind hits for Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and Taylor Swift, is credited with perfecting the modern pre-chorus as a pop songwriting tool.