[Yukon]

Here is a post about musical phrase patterns in a
song. We're going to be using a 12 bar verse.

First, I'm sure all of us are familiar with the
traditonal blues 12 bar phrase pattern.

It can be thought of as 3 phrases, each 4 bars in
length. The first and second phrase often use the
same lyric with a variation of the melody. The 3rd
phrase sort of
winds up the melody.

Also note that each 4 bar phrase is 2 bars of melody, with bars 3 and 4 just chording.

Such as:

I I I I
IV IV I I
V V I I
There are obviously countless progression variations for this.

Phrase 1:
Boy I really feel so bad today
Phrase 2:
Man, I mean I REALLY feel bad today
Phrase 3:
I feel so bad, I think I'll take 2 aspirins

Listen to Rober Johnson here. He adds a few bars
here and there. But the basic form is clear.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Yd60nI4sa9A

Here is a another 12 bar verse musical phrase pattern.

Progression:
I I I I
IV IV I I
V V I I

An example form Garth Brooks:

I I
Yeah she's my lady luck hey I'm her wild card man
I I
Together we're buildin' up a real hot hand
IV I
We live out in the country, hey she's my little queen of the south
V V I
Yeah we're two of a kind, working on a full house


Note that the 1st 2 phrases are 2 bars in length and rhyme.
The 3rd and 4th phrases are 4 bars in length, with the first 2 bars of each phrase containing melody.

It's best just to listen to some songs to hear how
the phrase pattern works in a few songs.

Listen Here:
Two of A Kind Working On A Full House - Garth
Brooks
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=TjtnmaVe3IQ

Other examples:
I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=zxDh2sYQRpo

In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry
http://www.youtube.c...j9pKXJ8&ob=av2n

Sombody Like You - Kieth Urban
http://www.youtube.c...GLXVHKk&ob=av2e

Just some examples of how some common
musical/lyric patterns are used in songwriting.

[Alistair S]

It's an interesting illustration of how the same rhythmic template can be used differently in different genres.