Guide · Songwriting
What is a pre-chorus?
A pre-chorus is a short section that sits between the verse and the chorus. Its job is to build tension so the chorus feels like a release. It usually has the same words each time it comes round, and it is often only two to four bars long.
Updated 20 Oct 2026
What a pre-chorus does
- Builds tension. It lifts the music so the chorus feels bigger when it arrives.
- Changes the pace. A new rhythm, chord or melody tells the listener the chorus is coming.
- Sets up the title. Often the last line of the pre-chorus leads straight into the title line.
Where it goes in the song
The common order is verse, pre-chorus, chorus, then verse, pre-chorus, chorus again. The pre-chorus is not required. Many songs go straight from verse to chorus. Add one when the jump between them feels too abrupt.
Verse 1 Pre-chorus Chorus Verse 2 Pre-chorus Chorus Bridge Chorus
Pre-chorus or bridge?
A bridge happens once, usually after the second chorus, and gives the song something new. A pre-chorus comes before every chorus and sounds the same each time. Both are different from the chorus, but the pre-chorus leads into it and the bridge leaves it.
How to write a pre-chorus
- Write the verse and chorus first. You will hear where they need a link.
- Make it build. Rise in pitch, go up in rhythm, or move to a chord that wants to resolve.
- Keep it short. Two to four bars is common. Longer and it becomes a second verse.
- End on tension. Finish on a chord or word that makes the listener want the chorus.
- Use the same words each time. It should work as a repeating section, like the chorus.
Save the sections you try
Pre-choruses are easy to lose in a long voice memo. In songdrafts you can drop a marker on a take where each section starts, name it, and jump straight back. Every take of the song stacks on one card, with the lyrics on the same song.
Common questions
Does every song need a pre-chorus?
No. Plenty of songs go straight from verse to chorus.
How long is a pre-chorus?
Often two to four bars, though there is no rule.
What is the difference between a pre-chorus and a bridge?
A pre-chorus comes before each chorus and repeats. A bridge usually happens once, as a break from the verse and chorus.
Do pre-choruses have the same lyrics each time?
Usually, yes. Some change a line or two.
What is a post-chorus?
A short section right after the chorus, often a chant or riff. See the song structure guide.
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