Song Structure Builder: Section Arrangement

A free song structure builder. Pick a genre and a target length to lay out Intro, Verse, Chorus and Bridge bars you can edit section by section.

Bar counts are editable. The total time recalculates as you change them. Runs locally in your browser.
Song Structure Builder

Map the bars before you record

Pick a genre and a target length to lay out Intro, Verse, Chorus and Bridge bars you can edit section by section. Every bar count is editable; the total time recalculates as you type.

What Is a Song Structure Builder?

A song structure builder turns a finished idea into a bar-level roadmap before you record a note. You pick a genre, set the length you are aiming for, and get a standard arrangement: intro, verses, choruses, a bridge and an outro, each assigned a number of bars. Instead of guessing whether your chorus is long enough or the bridge drags, you see the whole shape on one screen. What makes it useful is that every bar count is editable: if the default pop template gives you a four-bar pre-chorus but you want six, type six and the total runtime updates immediately.

How It Works

1
Pick a genreThe tool loads a typical BPM for that style, around 120 for pop and EDM, 100 for folk, near 95 for country, near 90 for hip-hop.
2
Set the target lengthEnter your length in seconds. The tool works out how many bars your length implies and splits them across genre-typical sections.
3
Edit bars liveChange any bar number and the row time plus the grand total recalculate, based on the current BPM.
4
Rebuild to compareSwitch genres and rebuild whenever you want to compare a folk layout against a country one for the same idea.

Tips for Best Results

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Keep chorus bars equalA bigger third chorus is a lift; a shorter second one feels unfinished.
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Keep intros and outros shortIf they creep above eight bars, they may be masking a weak first chorus.
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Bridges reset the earFour to eight bars is enough to reset the ear before the final chorus.
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Watch rap half-timeIf your verses feel long, you may be counting in double time on accident.

Who It’s For

Bedroom producersMapping a demo before committing to a track.
Bands and studentsArranging a set or learning song form. The site is maintained by Mel, a music enthusiast and hobbyist coder; more tools live on the hub.
Anyone missing a bridgeOnce the arrangement fits, check the hook line with the syllable counter, and when it is settled, name the track with the song title generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What BPM does each genre assume?
Pop and EDM sit near 120 to 128, rock around 120, folk near 100, country near 95, and hip-hop near 90. They are starting points, not fixed tempos.
Why are my bar counts rounded?
Musical sections almost always land in multiples of two or four bars, so the builder rounds to whole bars that feel natural.
Can I add or remove a section?
The builder uses genre-standard templates. Treat the nearest row as it and rename mentally; editing bars is the intended adjustment.
Does it save my arrangement?
No. It runs in the browser and resets on refresh, so note your final bar numbers if you want to reuse them.