Cary Acord is an avid stand up paddle boarder (SUP) who has competed in various SUP races and competitions. Cary Acord also enjoys playing guitar and bass and writing songs.
Songwriting combines elements of creative writing with the composition of original music. Despite the highly creative nature of songwriting, a large number of songs follow a few basic structures. The ABABCB structure is arguably the most common style of songwriting. In fact, many mainstream songs across a variety of genres assume this structure with little variation.
Songs that adhere to the ABABCB structure open with a verse that leads directly into a catchy chorus, or refrain. The first chorus is followed by a second verse that closely mirrors the first in structure, though it may be slightly shorter. The second verse is followed once again by a chorus. The second chorus may introduce slightly variations, but will generally follow the same melodic pattern of the first. The second chorus then gives way to the bridge. The bridge represents the only significant deviation within the song, as it soon is followed by a final chorus, ending the song.
The ABABCB song structure has a number of equally popular variants. For example, some songs may incorporate a pre-chorus before the first and second refrains, which usually serves as a quick build or change of pace before the actual chorus is performed. Under the ABABCB structure, songs that implement pre-choruses generally transition directly from the bridge into the final refrain.
