A section is a portion of a song divided by role and mood. Intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, interlude, and outro are typical sections.
The basic idea
Changing melody, chords, number of parts, and energy from section to section gives a song its flow. More than the names, what matters is deciding what each stretch is there to let the listener hear.
Its role in writing and performing
Looking at a whole song in sections makes it easier to spot places where the same thing goes on too long or where the energy falls short. It is the foundation for designing the development of a song.
How to check it in a DAW
Place markers in the arrangement window and name them “Intro,” “Verse,” “Chorus,” and so on. Comparing the bar count of each section and which parts are playing helps you organize the structure.
How it differs from related terms
A section is a division of the whole song, while a phrase is a short unit of melody or rhythm. A section can contain several phrases.
If you get stuck while writing, jotting down in one line what role the current stretch plays helps you get back on track.
