Song LabHear chords, build beats, and map your song. Scan the code or type:cmfnyc.github.io/song-lab/
Song Map Planner
How long will my song be?
Seconds = bars × 4 × 60 ÷ BPM
Example: 40 bars at 100 BPM → 40 × 4 × 60 ÷ 100 = 96 seconds (1:36).
Song 1 map (First Song form)
Title: ______________________ Key: ______ Tempo: ______ BPM
- Intro — 4 bars — What plays: ______________________ Energy (1–5): ___
- Verse 1 — 8 bars — What plays: ______________________ Energy: ___
- Chorus — 8 bars — What plays: ______________________ Energy: ___
- Verse 2 — 8 bars — What plays: ______________________ Energy: ___
- Chorus — 8 bars — What plays: ______________________ Energy: ___
- Outro — 4 bars — What plays: ______________________ Energy: ___
Total bars: ______ Length: ______
Song 2 map (Full Pop form)
Title: ______________________ Key: ______ Tempo: ______ BPM
- Intro — 4 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Verse 1 — 8 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Pre-chorus — 4 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Chorus — 8 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Verse 2 — 8 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Pre-chorus — 4 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Chorus — 8 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Bridge — 8 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Final Chorus — 8–16 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
- Outro — 4 bars — ______________________ Energy: ___
Lift for the final chorus: key change / new layer / drop and return / ad-libs
Energy curve
Draw a line across this page from left to right. Up = bigger, down = smaller.
A typical pop curve:
- Intro: low
- Verse 1: medium
- Chorus: high
- Verse 2: medium, a bit higher than verse 1
- Chorus: high
- Bridge: drop down or build up
- Final chorus: highest
- Outro: low
Ways to raise energy
- Add an instrument
- Drums get busier (more hi-hat, more kick)
- Melody goes higher
- Add a harmony or double the vocal
- A fill or riser right before the section
Ways to lower energy
- Mute instruments (the mute button is your best tool)
- Simpler drums, or no drums
- Lower melody, fewer words
- Chords held longer