Can anyone lay out a structure for songs

crazyeagle3 · 04-29-2005, 06:01 PM

Just wondering exactly how the songs work as far as having usually 4 verses.etc. I wanted to see if someone can type out a form of the structure of the songs. I have been dancing trad. for a couple of years and going to several powwows, but lately I want to sing in order to know the songs better that i may help my dancing even better especially for competition. Also if anyone has tips on anything dealing information that would help me with singing.
thanks.

Gledanh Zhinga · 02-01-2007, 10:03 AM

William Powers of Lakota book fame made an outline for "war dance" ["grass dance"] songs years ago. So, using pretty much his terminology, here goes.

LEAD
SECOND, then all join
MAIN CHORUS

A couple beat "drum break"

REPEAT CHORUS [without lead] COMPLETES 1 PUSHUP
------------------------------------------------------
LEAD AGAIN. It may clip off the above ending a little bit or start at the last beat of REPEAT CHORUS
SECOND, then all join

You're now into your second pushup.
--------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes the Chorus will have all vocables and the Repeat chorus will have words. Sometimes the song is all vocables. Some songs are word songs all the way.

The number of pushups will vary, normally from three to six or more.

Northern drums sometimes sing the TAIL [a REPEAT CHORUS CODA] and sometimes they do not.

**Kiwehnzii** · 02-01-2007, 10:23 AM

After you got it down pat, get those little page holding stands that the orchestra players use for each guy in your drum group.
That'll help you guys out tremendously.

**billyjoejimbob** · 02-01-2007, 11:53 AM

Maybe you can make a dance stick music stand!!! tee-hee.

Yeah, most songs have a basic format.

Lead (1 person)
Second (everyone)
Verse (everyone)

Verse again (everyone)

Then there are 'specialty' songs which may change it up a bit. But I aint going there.

Just LISTEN to a song. Dont jsut hear it, LISTEN to it over and over. Once you learn a song it is easier to figure it out.

Coyot_In_The_House · 02-01-2007, 12:11 PM

That's my reccomendation to you....

04-29-2005, 06:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
crazyeagle3 Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9	Can anyone lay out a structure for songs Just wondering exactly how the songs work as far as having usually 4 verses.etc. I wanted to see if someone can type out a form of the structure of the songs. I have been dancing trad. for a couple of years and going to several powwows, but lately I want to sing in order to know the songs better that i may help my dancing even better especially for competition. Also if anyone has tips on anything dealing information that would help me with singing. thanks. __________________ It is always better to give than to receive.

02-01-2007, 11:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,517	Maybe you can make a dance stick music stand!!! tee-hee. Yeah, most songs have a basic format. Lead (1 person) Second (everyone) Verse (everyone) Verse again (everyone) Then there are 'specialty' songs which may change it up a bit. But I aint going there. Just LISTEN to a song. Dont jsut hear it, LISTEN to it over and over. Once you learn a song it is easier to figure it out. __________________ There are 2 types of people in the world... Really stupid people who think they are smart and Really smart people who think they are smart.

02-01-2007, 12:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Coyot_In_The_House NO STALKERS! GET A LIFE? Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,865	Rely on your ear my friend.... That's my reccomendation to you....

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02-01-2007, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gledanh Zhinga Blacksmith Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 301	William Powers of Lakota book fame made an outline for "war dance" ["grass dance"] songs years ago. So, using pretty much his terminology, here goes. LEAD SECOND, then all join MAIN CHORUS A couple beat "drum break" REPEAT CHORUS [without lead] COMPLETES 1 PUSHUP ------------------------------------------------------ LEAD AGAIN. It may clip off the above ending a little bit or start at the last beat of REPEAT CHORUS SECOND, then all join You're now into your second pushup. -------------------------------------------------------- Sometimes the Chorus will have all vocables and the Repeat chorus will have words. Sometimes the song is all vocables. Some songs are word songs all the way. The number of pushups will vary, normally from three to six or more. Northern drums sometimes sing the TAIL [a REPEAT CHORUS CODA] and sometimes they do not.

02-01-2007, 10:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,854	After you got it down pat, get those little page holding stands that the orchestra players use for each guy in your drum group. That'll help you guys out tremendously.

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