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Give Your Song A "Lift

Many songs incorporate a distinct section of music that separates the end of the verse from the start of the chorus. This songwriting device, commonly known as a "lift" (also called a climb, pre-chorus, pre-hook, set-up and channel) is used to draw the listener's attention to the start of the chorus. When successfully executed, a lift builds momentum and excitement, and adds to the power of the chorus. In this article, we'll look at two simple techniques that will help to keep the lifts of your song soaring.

Melodic Tension.  Melodically speaking, the verse in a song is usually lower than the chorus. Because higher melodic pitches are more exciting than lower ones, they are saved for the chorus. You can almost think of the lift as being a "melodic escort" that walks the listener from the end of the verse into the exciting chorus. The lift creates a melodic tension that is resolved at the start of the chorus. A great example of a lift that does just this is the Trisha Yearwood song, "She's In Love With The Boy", (songwriter - Ims).

Notice that the melody at the end of the verse of this song hovers between the notes B and E. As soon as the lift begins, the melody immediately moves into a higher range, concentrating between the notes D and G. When the second half of the lift starts ("But Katie's young...), the melody shifts upward again, climbing its way toward the start of the chorus. This gradual upward climb in the "lift" builds up a melodic tension gets resolved as soon as we hit the title line in the start of the chorus which is perfect timing.

Rhythmic Tension.   Another songwriting technique to create tension in the lift is to change the pace of the chords or the rhythms. By quickening the pace at which the notes or chords change, you can create a rhythmic tension which is resolved at the start of the chorus. For example, if the chord changes are once per measure in the verse, change them twice per measure in the lift. If the predominant melodic rhythm in the verse is quarter notes, change to eighth notes in the lift. Let's take a look at the lift from the song, "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (songwriter - King/Goffin/Wexler), which has been on the charts three times for three different artists, most recently with Celine Dion.

  The chords only change once every two measures throughout the verse ("Looking out on the morning rain..."). But when the lift starts ("before the day I met you..."), the chords change every measure, thereby building momentum throughout the lift. Also in the verse - some words are split across two measures. But in the last line of the lift ("but your love was the key..."), the rhythmic pattern changes so that more syllables occur per measure. This helps the song build up even more momentum and excitement heading into the start of the chorus where we're immediately hit with the song's hook.

So that's all there is to it. Just remember to make your lift build musically - and then when you hit the chorus, it will really pay off.

Hope to see you on the charts.

Danny

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