verse-chorus
The most common song structure in popular music, alternating between storytelling verses and a repeated chorus.
In Depth
The verse-[chorus form](/term/verse-chorus%20form) is the dominant structure of modern pop, rock, country, and R&B. Verses advance the story or develop the lyrical theme with new words each time, while the chorus provides the emotional and melodic payoff — the part everyone sings along with. A typical pop song follows the pattern verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus, though countless variations exist. The chorus usually contains the song's title and hook. Effective verse-chorus songs create contrast between the two sections — the verse might be lower, quieter, and more conversational, while the chorus opens up with higher notes, fuller instrumentation, and the big melodic moment.
The verse-chorus structure became dominant only in the mid-20th century. Before that, most popular songs used AABA form — a structure that barely exists in today's charts.