What is a Bridge in a Song? [And How to Write One!]

Virtually ALL genres of music follow some kind of structure, from pop music to EDM (and even jazz, though admittedly that genre can get pretty out there!).

But as I explained in my epic guide revealing the 7 parts of a song, the majority of song structures basically just mix and match 7 common building blocks for music: intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, post-chorus, bridge, and outro.

In this post, I’m going to focus in on the bridge, answering the question “what is a bridge in a song?” and sharing some of my own tips for how to write an amazing bridge! (Between you and me, the bridge may just be my favorite part of a song to write and listen to.)

Ready? Get your construction hat on – it’s time to find out all about bridges!

What is a Bridge?

A bridge is the connection between two different parts of a song. Usually, it’s a contrasting section that paves the way for the return of the original section.

As a key building block of song structure in popular music, the bridge usually appears between the second and third chorus, but you may also find it between a verse and chorus – or even between two verses!

via GIPHY

Tonally, the bridge stands apart from the rest of the song, featuring a new spin on familiar elements, such as a unique chord progression, melody, arrangement, key, time signature, tempo, or lyrics. These fresh ideas drive home the variation, which is important to make a bridge feel different than what comes before (and after).

From a lyrical standpoint, the bridge plays an important role in commenting on prior elements of the song and potentially recontextualizing the original theme or meaning of prior verses and choruses. I’ll get into that more later, but just know that the bridge is doing a LOT of heavy lifting!

I also want to add that a bridge is generally ONLY a bridge if it appears just one time in a song (or possibly two, depending on how you label some song sections)! This makes sense if you think about it – after all, if you hear three or four “bridges” in the same song, then wouldn’t that by definition make it more of a repeating element like a chorus, verse, refrain, pre-chorus, or post-chorus instead?

I think so!

Why Do Songs Need a Bridge?

A bridge is used to break up the repetition of verses and choruses, while building momentum toward a song’s final chorus.

Think of it like a palate cleanser or a reset button. Even the most delicious foods can get old if you keep eating them without a break (except for Reese’s peanut butter cups, obviously) – and so can the catchiest or most enjoyable songs if you keep hearing the same thing repeated over and over!

From a musical standpoint, the bridge almost HAS to be a different key, chord progression, tempo, rhythm, or arrangement to qualify as a bridge.

As I mentioned in my article about changing keys in music, you can change keys by going from a relative major to a relative minor (or vice versa), jumping up a half step, jumping up a whole step, and more. This is an easy way to (metaphorically, please) smack your listener over the head and say “Hey, this section is different!”

Here’s a quick list of other things a bridge can do:

• Add variation to the song
• Create or release tension
• Provide a dynamic shift
• Take the song theme in a new direction
• Transition between two different parts of a song
• Be the most memorable passage in a song

With all that said, not all songs need a bridge! Some get by with a series of verses and choruses, especially in genres like folk (not to mention more instrumental genres like EDM or ambient music).

But most importantly, as a songwriter or music artist, YOU get to decide what your song’s structure looks like. If it needs a bridge, go for it – if it’s better without one, that’s fine too!

However, assuming you want to write a bridge, we’re going to dive into HOW that’s done next!

8 Different Types of Bridges

There are a lot of different types of bridges out there that you can use as a guide for your own bridge. Let’s touch on a few of them!

1) Middle 8

Traditionally, the Middle 8 is the 8-bar “B” section of a 32-bar AABA song, but it’s come to be synonymous with “bridge” in all kinds of songs. That means it may not technically be in the middle of a song, and it may not be exactly 8 bars either (GASP!) – but it’s a good shorthand for this type of section.

The Middle 8 is probably the most common type of bridge and something you can find throughout pop music. Let’s talk through a few examples of Middle 8s.

• “Yesterday” by the Beatles. In Yesterday, there’s a contrasting section with the lyrics “Why she had to go / I don’t know, she wouldn’t say…” This appears twice and functions as a bridge between Verse 2 and 3 and after Verse 3 as the outro of the song. It’s a wistful sound.
• “Fix You” by Coldplay. In Fix You, the Middle 8 is the “tears stream down your face” section, and it does a great job of contributing to the climax of the song after a lengthy emotional buildup.

2) Instrumental Bridge (Solo)

The instrumental bridge offers a space for musical exploration without any words. If your song has lyrics and vocals throughout, the instrumental bridge – or solo – is a contrasting element because it relies on instruments alone.

From a songwriting perspective, the lack of vocals in an instrumental bridge can provide much-needed space for your listeners to reflect on the song’s lyrical narrative or musical ideas without distraction. It can also just sound really cool – who doesn’t want a chance to shred on guitar or play a cool beat on the drums?

Here are some great examples of instrumental bridges:

• “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. If you were as talented at electric guitar as Carlos Santana, you’d probably put an instrumental bridge in your hit song too.
• “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler’s epic guitar solo starting at 3:20 is more than a minute long and really drives home the impact an instrumental bridge can have.
• “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel. Not only is this song about an actual bridge, but it’s also an absolutely beautiful example of an instrumental bridge after the second chorus that provides some space for the theme to resonate before building back up to a strong conclusion.

3) Interlude

The interlude is a type of bridge that serves as an instrumental or vocal break between sections of a song. They may happen in more places than the standard “Middle 8” or instrumental solo section, sometimes at the beginning, sometimes at the end, and often as a way to help transition from one theme to another.

Here are some great examples of instrumental bridges:

• “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin. It starts with a soft acoustic guitar melody by epic musician Jimmy Page, crescendoes with an energetic guitar solo, and then leads to a final climactic instrumental section. These different instrumental bridges all contribute to a dynamic musical journey.
• “My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane. This song is rooted in modal jazz, so it has a lot of improvisation. But these musical interludes aren’t just melody – they push the boundaries of jazz through extended solos.

5 Other Types of Bridges

While we’ve looked at some of the typical ways to think about bridges, there are other types of bridges you should consider. At the very least, this list is handy to refer to if you want to come up a way to make your bridge stand out from the rest of your song!

• Lyric Bridge. The lyric bridge typically serves as the most pivotal moment of a song. It works to provide a twist in the song’s narrative, shift a listener’s perspective, or deepen the thematic content. Just because it’s “lyrical” doesn’t mean it isn’t still musical, but the emphasis is definitely on the significance of the lyrics. A good example of a lyric bridge is in the song “Someone Like You,” with the following lyrics in the bridge: “regrets and mistakes, they’re / memories made / Who would have known how / bittersweet this would taste?” While most of the song has Adele suggesting that she’s ready to move on from the relationship, this bridge section betrays the depth of her regret, which is simultaneously both a contrast to what came before and a reinforcement of the theme!
• Modulatory Bridge. A modulatory bridge is simply a bridge that modulates (or changes keys). This could mean changing up a a half-step (commonly known as the truck driver’s modulation), or switching from a major key to its relative minor (or vice versa), or more formally, going with a different mode. Countless songs change keys in the bridge, but one good example is “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson.
• Breakdown Bridge. In a breakdown bridge, the track gets sparse, with maybe a simple beat, accompaniment, and vocals, before building back up to a dramatic final chorus. This effect happens a lot in pop music bridges. One example is “In The End” by Linkin Park. When Chester first sings “I’ve put my trust in you, pushed as far / as I can go” around 2:12, the song reverts back to the main piano riff with sparse accompaniment. The second time he goes into this bridge, the crunchy electric guitar comes in and builds momentum into a bombastic final chorus.
• Counterpoint Bridge. In the counterpoint bridge, a new melody gets introduced that can serve as a counterpoint to the main melody. Sometimes, both melodies come together, as in the bridge to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” which has a new melody in “I don’t want to be friends” alongside the main melody of the phrase “I want your bad romance.” (French lines notwithstanding, of course.)
• Rap Bridge. A rap bridge is simply a rap section in a song. This is a lot more common in recent pop music, such as in the popular Katy Perry song “Dark Horse,” which is mostly melodic throughout the verses and choruses. Then, Juicy J comes in with a rap bridge at 2:18 that provides a contrast to the poppy track with an edgier feel to it. Other songs in the rap or hip-hop genre may do the exact opposite of this, with a melodic bridge in contrast to rapped verses and choruses.

These are just some of the many ways to make a memorable bridge.

In fact, believe it or not, the bridge is versatile enough that you can even combine one or more of these types of bridges in the same song. The fun part is experimenting to see what makes the most sense in whatever you’re writing!

3 Tips to Write a Great Bridge for Your Song

Okay, I’ve talked about what a bridge is, looked at how it works, and revealed several of the different types of bridges out there.

Now, let’s quickly talk through some tips for writing a great bridge.

1) Consider Your Song’s Message or Theme

When you go to write your bridge, you should stop and think about the central message or emotional core of your song. Ask yourself, “What is the main emotion or story I’m trying to convey?”

The bridge is an opportunity to either reinforce this message, or to introduce a new perspective that deepens your listener’s understanding of the song’s theme. So, if your song is about heartbreak (like so many are), the bridge might explore a moment of reflection, a turning point, or even a glimmer of hope. If your song is about triumph, the bridge could introduce a moment of doubt or an unexpected obstacle.

Example: In Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well,” the bridge shifts from reminiscing about a past relationship to a more intense reflection on the heartbreak and betrayal.

Tip: Use the bridge to either contrast the verses/chorus or to take the song’s theme to its next logical emotional level.

2) Choose a Contrasting Element to Focus On

Expansion: A great bridge often stands out because it contrasts with the rest of the song. This contrast can be achieved in many ways, such as melody, harmony, rhythm, or lyrics. Think about how you can surprise the listener! Maybe you change the chord progression to something unexpected, shift the time signature, or alter the dynamics by stripping down the instrumentation or, conversely, building it up.

Example: In The Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out,” the bridge (“Life is very short…”) contrasts with the optimistic verses by introducing a darker, more urgent tone – and it even emphasizes this with a brief shift to 3/4 time for 2 bars. It’s one of my favorite bridges because it made such a daring choice.

Tip: Consider experimenting with different musical elements that contrast with your verse and chorus – whether that means slowing things down, changing the key, or flipping the narrative in your lyrics.

3) Add a Twist

The bridge is the perfect place to add a twist to your song, whether it’s lyrical, musical, or emotional. By default, the verse and chorus are fairly defined and static, so the bridge is a rare chance to break free of the boundaries you’ve already set for the other parts of your song.

Any twist you add can be subtle, like just introducing a new chord or instrument – or it can be dramatic, like completely changing the meaning of what came before. The twist should feel like a natural progression from the earlier parts of the song, yet surprising enough to make an impact. Think about how the bridge can change the listener’s perspective – maybe it reveals a hidden meaning in the lyrics or shifts the mood in a way that’s unexpected but satisfying.

Example: In Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” the bridge (“Make that change…”) acts as a call to action, reinforcing the song’s message but adding a twist by making it more personal and urgent.

Tip: I like using the bridge to give the rest of the song a totally different meaning, sort of like an M. Night Shyamalan twist. Don’t be afraid to take risks with your bridge – this is your chance to make the song memorable by adding an unexpected element that causes the way the listener to reconsider how they interpret the rest of the song.

Bonus Tip: Think of the Bridge as a “Break”

While this might seem obvious at face value, remember that the bridge can serve as a mental or emotional break for the listener. If your verse and chorus are intense or heavy, the bridge can offer a moment of calm before the final push.

Conversely, if the song has felt subdued, the bridge might be where the energy ramps up. By using the bridge as either a breather or a buildup, you can control the emotional flow of the song and keep the listener’s attention through by deploying contrast wisely!

What is a Bridge in a Song Wrap-up

The bridge is an important part of many songs, breaking up the same repeating elements to inject some much-needed interest and novelty into your composition. You might think of it as a “delightful detour” or even a unique “song within a song.” (Like a less violent version of Hamlet’s “play within a play,” sorta!)

Ultimately, a bridge can give your song variation, contrast, and a burst of energy. But don’t just force a bridge into your song if it doesn’t fit seamlessly. Not every song needs a bridge to work. And don’t worry so much about whether a specific song section is formally identified as a “bridge” – I’ve written songs with unique sections where it felt right to switch things up. You can call that an interlude, a pre-chorus, a bridge, a refrain…

Or maybe you don’t have to call it anything. If it works, it works!

With all that said, I hope this guide to bridges has been helpful. Now, go build an epic bridge for your song!