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How to Make a Bridge in Music

The musical bridge is a section of a song that provides a break to and from the lyrics and melody. Bridges are often lyrical, but they can occasionally be solely instrumental. Bridges are referred to as "the middle eight" in many locations outside of the United States. A song without a bridge often lacks an edge that takes the listener away from a standard rotation between the verses and chorus.

Instructions

- 1
  Write your bridge between the second and third chorus. This creates a verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus pattern.
- 2
  Write between two to four lines of lyrics. Note, however, that you don't have to use any lyrics and could instead use a solo guitar section, for example.
- 3
  Add to the bridge an element in the lyrics that is new, which ties the song together. For example, a long song bridge might follow up lyrics that describe how much a person misses a woman with what he will do to get her back.
- 4
  Use several techniques to change the structure of your bridge from the rest of the song. For example, change the use of "I" to "he" or "she," alternate the time frame or switch from details to general statements.
- 5
  Add new musical chords, change the progression and rhythm or do both. The idea is to give the listener something new to hear.
- 6
  Use only a couple instruments. For example, many bridges feature only the singer and a single instrument such as a piano or guitar.

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