Rhyme Scheme Secrets to Learn

Rhyme scheme is critical in a song as it provides closure, memorization, predictability and forward movement in a song. Rhyme words need to be placed properly to feel natural, not forced and sweet to the ear.

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The rhyming words at the end of lines determines this. To write what this looks like, a letter is used to represent the word at the end of each line.

For example Mary Had A Little Lamb is called abcb meaning the second and fourth lines end in the similar sounding words snow and go.

Mary had a little lamb - a

Its fleece was white as snow - b

Every where that Mary went - c

The lamb was sure to go - b

When you write a song the rhyme scheme of the verses should be the same. Dito for the choruses. Try and vary the feel of the song by making sure the verses and choruses rhyming pattern is different.

If the verse is abcb then the choruses should be something else like aabb or abab. The point is, it should not be abcb.

Rhyming in couplets tends to make the thought feel complete or resolved at the end of the second line. No problem if that's what you want your listener to feel. An aabb or and an abcb verse or chorus feel different to the ear. Think about that when writing.

When writing verses or choruses longer than 4 lines, make the end of the verse feel like it's moving forward by putting couplets at the end of the last lines.

Instead of using ababcdcd, try ababccdd or instead of abcbdefe, try abcbddee. This will move the song forward as a long verse can sometimes feel like it drags near the end.

In a six line verse or chorus, instead of ababab try ababcc. Instead of aabbcc try abcbdd. Again it provides motion into the chorus.

The brain loves well done rhymed lines. Without them it's much harder to remember the lines to a song. Not providing the expected sound at the end of the line can also throw the listener off balance.

Hey, it may serve the song if the mood is meant to be unsettled. Play with it to try and find the best option. It's a tool great songwriters use all the time.

When writing songs always do a rhyme scheme check. Sometimes lines are easily interchanged without hurting the song. Even if it means extra work, most times the song is stronger for the effort.