# Name for part of a song that builds up to chorus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894 "2008-12-28T00:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/1 "2008-12-28T00:46:56Z")
Is there a name or special term used for the distinct, gradual buildup in a song that leads to a chorus? For example, in [this section of this music video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zad2H2uwOGM#t=2m15s) (at around 2:15), the song takes on a distinct tone (compared to the verses) in what I would consider a gradual buildup to the chorus (which starts at 2:29). Is there a name or musical term for this? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/2 "2008-12-28T00:51:35Z")
Crescendo? ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/3 "2008-12-28T00:53:20Z")
Would that be a [bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_(music))? ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/4 "2008-12-28T00:56:49Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Is there a name or special term used for the distinct, gradual buildup in a song that leads to a chorus? Often called a “pre-chorus”, “pre-hook”, “b-section”, “lift”, etc. I don’t think there is a standard terminology for it. Robert “Mutt” Lange writes a lot of his songs (for Def Leppard, Cars, Corrs, Shania Twain, etc) with a pre-chorus. (Btw, I’m not saying RML wrote the song in the video you cited.) Some songwriters almost never write a pre-chorus section (e.g. Sting, Stevie Wonder) ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/5 "2008-12-28T00:58:16Z")
You may be thinking of a bridge. – Here’s a bit from Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Lyrically the bridge is typically used to pause and reflect on the earlier portions of the song or to prepare the listener for the climax.[citation needed] > > The term may also be used to refer to the section between the verse and the chorus, although this is more commonly referred to as the pre-chorus or link. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/6 "2008-12-28T01:05:40Z")
> [@CaerieD](#): > > Would that be a [bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_(music))? A “bridge” in it’s primary (and more common) definition is a one-time musical tangent about 2/3rds into the song. The bars of music that OP is talking about is repeated right before each chorus. I do see that wikipedia mentions bridge as a “prechorus” as a secondary definition. However, I’ve never heard “bridge” used in that manner. If a music producer tells me the song needs a “bridge”, he’s always talking about the one-time 8-bar musical tangent. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/7 "2008-12-28T05:33:14Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > Often called a “pre-chorus”, “pre-hook”, “b-section”, “lift”, etc. I don’t think there is a standard terminology for it. > > Robert “Mutt” Lange writes a lot of his songs (for Def Leppard, Cars, Corrs, Shania Twain, etc) with a pre-chorus. (Btw, I’m not saying RML wrote the song in the video you cited.) > > Some songwriters almost never write a pre-chorus section (e.g. Sting, Stevie Wonder) I concur. I know it as a “pre-chorus.” It occurs at 0:53 and 2:15 in the linked song. The “bridge” occurs at 2:57. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/8 "2008-12-28T15:28:02Z")
Not a bridge, which is typically a “relief”, “break” or “change of pace” before things get going again. I never heard a specific term for what you are asking, but I’d just say it’s the “build-up” to the climax or chorus. It’s generally a good songwriting technique, IMHO. A crescendo is an [increase in sound level,](http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=crescendo)\* although I guess you could apply it to an increase in “intensity”, and an increase in intensity is often accompanied by an increase in sound volume. Things are building up to the chorus or hook. * * * - I hesitate using “increase in _loudness,_” since loudness brings to mind [Fletcher-Munson curves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher%E2%80%93Munson_curves), [(another link),](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness) which is too technical for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/9 "2008-12-28T17:10:51Z")
Other names include “channel” and “climb” [according to the description under the “pre-chorus” heading here.](http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/sep00/dawson13.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-part-of-a-song-that-builds-up-to-chorus/478894/10 "2008-12-28T17:41:33Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Other names include “channel” and “climb” [according to the description under the “pre-chorus” heading here.](http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/sep00/dawson13.htm) Interesting coincidence they also mention Robert “Mutt” Lange as an example. Small world! I’ve studied RML songs forward & backward and to me, he is the king and textbook example of pre-chorus technique. It’s also interesting to note that RML almost never writes a “bridge” in his songs – lots and lots of pre-choruses but no bridges. Diane Warren writes both pre-choruses and bridges in the same song. Michael Jackson writes both pre-choruse and bridges but not usually both structures in the same song. > [@Musicat](#): > > It’s generally a good songwriting technique, IMHO. For pop/rock/country yes but not doesn’t seem to be common for jazz or thrash metal. So many “correct” ways to write a song. They all work and sound great.