Lyrics of this type feel particularly interesting as they're very strong (due to the three rhymed lines) yet at the same time just when you think that fourth line will be another A rhyme you're surprised with a line that doesn't match. In this rhyme scheme, you're rhyming three lines together and leaving the fourth line unrhymed.Ĭheck out the verses of Carly Rae Jepsen's “Call Me Maybe” for a great example of AAAX. Worth trying when you don't want to your song to feel like it's only built out of steady couplets (two line phrases). It's an interesting effect to help change up the flow of your phrases. Other examples of ABAB in popular songs can be found in the verses of Josh Groban's “Remember When It Rained” and in the first half of the chorus to Westlife's “I'm Already There.”Īs you can see, this an equally stable rhyme scheme as AABB, however unlike that one, ABAB makes all four lines of the lyrics sound like one long group. Take a look at Al Jolson’s April Showers:Ī Life is not a highway strewn with flowersĪ When the sun gives way to April showersī Here is the point you should never miss In this type, the first line will rhyme with the third, and the second will rhyme with the fourth. The second most popular rhyme scheme that you can find is ABAB. So if what you're writing about is a solid idea and it features an emotionally stable concept, this rhyme scheme could be a great fit. In this case, the lyrics feel like you get two lines followed by another two lines. As the markup suggests, in this rhyme scheme the first two lines rhyme and the third and fourth lines rhyme.Ĭheck out the verses of Kacey Musgraves' “Biscuits” for another great example of AABB.Īs you can see, it's a very stable and strong connection that sets up expectations that are instantly met and resolved.
One of the more basic and standard rhyme schemes that you will find in songs is AABB. With the basics down, let's identify some popular rhyme schemes that you can try in your songwriting! AABB If you take a look at some of the most successful songs in history you'll notice that whatever rhyme scheme is established in the first verse will typically employ the same one in recurring verses. On the other hand, a verse that only has rhymes between lines 2 and 4, and no rhyme between lines 1 and 3 would be identified as a XAXA rhyme scheme. For example, if you have a four-line chorus in which lines 1 and 2 rhyme together and lines 3 and 4 rhyme together you have a chorus with an AABB rhyme scheme. Using this simple method you can easily notate the rhyme scheme and start recognizing it in existing songs. If a line doesn't rhyme with any other rhyme we mark it with an X If two (or more) lines rhyme together, we give them the same letter (starting with A and moving up the alphabet) We use a very basic notation system to mark these up: Which rhyme scheme you use will often depend on the subject matter you're singing about, but ultimately the choice is up to you. Whereas if your rhyming pattern is odd, and some lines don't rhyme at all, you're creating a rhyming scheme that is unbalanced, irregular and unstable. If every two lines of lyrics rhyme with each other you have a steady, even and stable rhyme scheme, where the expectation that is set by one line is instantly met and resolved in the following line. The pattern we choose allows us to create a flow that feels either stable or unstable.
#How to wow! – mastering the creative flow series#
If you've been following this series of songwriting tips articles, you will have already explored various types of rhymes in your songs.Ī rhyme scheme is a way of determining which lines of lyrics rhyme with one another.
#How to wow! – mastering the creative flow free#
What follows are 12 different rhymes schemes to try in your songwriting to free your lyrics and give you more creative flexibility.īefore we talk about rhyme schemes, let’s define them. Odds are, you’re using only one or two basic rhyme schemes in all your songs. However, have you ever looked at the rhyme schemes that you’re using? If you’ve been writing songs for a while, you’ll know that rhymes can be a super helpful tool in your lyric writing.
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