What is Refrain in Music?

Are you just starting on your music journey and want to learn all about the intricate details that go into composing music? Well, you have reached the right article. Here you are sure to find the answers to all your confusions.

Trying to understand the details that go into making a song come to life and learning all about what a refrain is and what makes it different from the chorus is the first step. Let’s, have a look at what the refrain is in music. Once you are done reading this article, the world of music is going to seem a lot less complicated.

In simple words, the refrain is the repetition of a verse in a song. It can be further divided into two categories. The first is the melody of the song, essentially the music itself. The second is the written part known as the lyrics of the song. The refrain is present in all types of songs, be it jazz, pop, or even rock music.

It can be one line or up to two lines at max. For instance, if you observe the song Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan, the last two lines at the end of each verse are the same. This is the refrain in the song.

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Yes, ‘n’ how many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ‘n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Yes, ‘n’ how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Historical Perspective

The word refrain itself comes from an old French word called Refraindre. This word translates to something that is repeated.

What is a Chorus?

You may be thinking that refrain is the same thing as a chorus then – since it is repeated. However, that is not the case. The chorus contains more words than a refrain and is essentially the expression of the main idea of the song. It’s the bigger picture and comes with a melody build up. It is also repeated after every verse.

Here is an example to make it easier to understand. If you have a look at the lyrics to the song Happy by Pharrell Williams, the chorus is repeated after every verse as follows:

[Verse 1]
It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care, baby, by the way

[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

[Verse 2]
Here come bad news, talking this and that (Yeah!)
Well, give me all you got, don’t hold it back (Yeah!)
Well, I should probably warn ya, I’ll be just fine (Yeah!)
No offense to you, don’t waste your time, here’s why

And so on….

Differences Between a Refrain and a Chorus

The refrain and chorus may seem the same and are often used interchangeably, but they are quite different in terms of their structure. Here are two main differences between the refrain and chorus. If you keep these in mind, you are sure to clear out any confusion about the refrain and chorus going forward.

1. The Length

The refrain is shorter than the chorus. It is usually one or two lines and can also be the same as the title or name of the song. On the other hand, the chorus is longer in terms of text. It can be a compilation of several verses or lines that are repeated.

2. The Build Up

The refrain has no melodic buildup. The chorus however does have a melody buildup, this makes the song quite catchy and easy to remember.

Here’s the bottom line – all choruses are refrains since they get repeated. But, not all refrains can be a chorus due to the absence of a melodic buildup.

Wrapping it Up with the Right Refrain!

There you have it, a breakdown of what a refrain and chorus are, how they are used, and what makes them stand out from each other. You can now add the right verses and rhythms to your songs to make them exciting and fun. Be sure to place the refrain strategically – this is key in making your music stand out. You can play around with different tunes, melodic buildups, and verses and see which one works best for your song. It may take a while to get it right, but you are sure to reach your music goal in no time! You can even explore and study different types of music and musical compositions from online platforms such as Coursera. Click here to go through some of the music composition courses.

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