Pre-Chorus
- Definition
- A pre-chorus is a short transitional section placed between the verse and the chorus that builds momentum and signals that the chorus is about to arrive. It typically has its own distinct melody and rising energy, separate from both the verse and chorus.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Songwriting stage
- writing
In practice
Not every song needs a pre-chorus, but when used well it solves a common problem: a verse that ends and jumps straight into the chorus can feel abrupt, especially if the chorus is meant to feel like a release. The pre-chorus acts as a ramp, often raising the melodic pitch, thickening the harmony, or quickening the lyrical pace so that the listener feels anticipation building toward the chorus's arrival.
To write an effective pre-chorus, keep it short—usually two to four lines—and make sure it clearly differs from the verse melodically, even if only slightly. A good test is to remove the pre-chorus and listen to the verse lead directly into the chorus; if something feels like it is missing, the pre-chorus is doing its job of building necessary tension.
Example
After a verse describing quiet frustration, a pre-chorus escalates the energy with a repeated rising phrase: 'And I can feel it building, building, building up inside / There's no more hiding, hiding, hiding what I feel tonight.' The repetition and rising melody push directly into the chorus's release.