How To Write A Popular Song - online manual

A non-technical how-to-do it system for the aspiring song writer.

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	two measures of the verse melody may be very usefully employed. This form of "vamp" has the additional advant­age of helping nervous singers to remember exactly how the song starts,—a very important point when you come to think of it. Some Coon songs are better without "vamps" of any kind. This is a point that may well be left to the discretion of the composer. To resume, the introduction is usually formed from the melody and accompaniment of either four or eight (if the song is in common time), or eight or sixteen measures (if in 2-4 time) of the beginning of the verse, or a combination of measures taken from the verse and refrain skilfully blended. If in common time, the verse should be sixteen measures in length with a refrain of equal length, having a first and second ending for repetition purposes. If in 2-4 time the verse and refrain should consist of thirty-two measures each and the refrain should have a first and second ending as in the cases already referred to. If either form of song has a "vamp," a Dal Segno (D. S.) sign, i. e., is written at the end of the last measure of the refrain, which takes the accompaniment back to the beginning of the vamp, where a similar signis placed. In such a case the original prelude or introduction is not, of course, played again. When the song has no "vamp" the ac­companiment goes back to the beginning and the original prelude or introduction is played before singing the second or following verses. It is usual to place at the finish of the chorus in these instances a De Capo mark, thus D. C. This leaves no room
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