The Unsung Hero of Songwriting: Rhyme Schemes
7 things you need to know about them
Have you ever felt like your lyrics are just wandering aimlessly, or that you're constantly battling to find that one elusive word to finish a line? As songwriters, we all know that feeling! But what if I told you there’s a fundamental tool that can provide structure, enhance flow, and ultimately make your songs more memorable? It's all about rhyme schemes.
In my books, I often talk about the importance of having various tools in your songwriting arsenal. Understanding and using rhyme schemes effectively is definitely one of them. Let's dive in and see how they can elevate your craft.
7 things you need to know about Rhyme Schemes
1. What Exactly is a Rhyme Scheme?
Simply put, a rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of the lines in your song lyrics. Think of it as a roadmap for your listeners' ears, guiding them through the sonic landscape of your song.
We often use letters like A, B, C to notate these patterns, showing which lines rhyme with each other. For example, an AABB rhyme scheme means:
The first and second lines rhyme with each other
And the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other.
Simple.
Understanding this basic concept is the first step to harnessing its power.
2. Why Should Songwriters Care About Rhyme Schemes?
You will find commercially successful songs without a rhyme scheme - remember these are just tools, not rules. But they are rare. This is because rhyme schemes are not just academic exercises; they play a vital role in creating compelling songs. They provide structure and organisation to your lyrical ideas, helping to define the different sections of your song.
Also, rhymes are all about sound, not spelling. So, if you are writing a lyric in a different part of the world, for example from the UK or Tennessee, the words you’d be writing would be different for rhymes. For example, in London, you might rhyme “again/pen”, whereas in Nashville you might rhyme “again/sin”.
Furthermore, they significantly contribute to the flow and rhythm of your lyrics, making them feel more natural and musical. By creating an expectation of rhyme, and then delivering it, you can also provide a sense of closure and connection within each section. See more about rhyme and motion here.
3. Common Rhyme Scheme Patterns
There are several common rhyme schemes that songwriters frequently use:
AABB (couplets) often creates a straightforward and catchy feel.
ABAB (alternating rhyme) offers a sense of back-and-forth or a gentle movement.
AAA can create a continuous or building feeling, with maybe using a title in the last line
AABA can build anticipation until the final 'A' line provides a resolution.
Even patterns like XAXA, where only the second and fourth lines rhyme, can create a unique flow.
Experimenting with these different patterns can add variety and interest to your songwriting.
4. The Relationship Between Rhyme and Flow
How you structure your rhyme scheme directly impacts the flow of your lyrics. For example, couplets (AABB) can create a more continuous, through-written feel, pushing the listener forward. In contrast, a more fragmented rhyme scheme might subdivide a section, creating pauses or emphasizing certain lines.
The strength of your rhymes also plays a role; stronger, perfect rhymes often provide a greater sense of resolution, while near rhymes can offer more flexibility. Pay attention to how your chosen rhyme scheme influences your song's overall pace and feel.
5. Making Rhyme Schemes Work For Your Song (Not Against It)
While rhyme schemes are powerful tools, it's crucial to remember that the meaning of your lyrics should always come first. Don't let the need to find a rhyme dictate your message. Instead, use rhyme schemes to enhance and support what you want to say.
Feel free to experiment and avoid deviating from strict patterns if it serves your artistic vision. Analysing the rhyme schemes in songs you admire can also provide valuable insight.
6. Beyond Basic End Rhyme
Rhyme doesn't always have to occur at the end of a line. Exploring internal rhyme, where words within the same line rhyme, can add another layer of texture and musicality to your lyrics.
You can also think about how your rhyme scheme interacts with toggling, the combination of external and internal details in your verses, as discussed by Andrea Stolpe. These more advanced techniques can make your lyrics stand out and engage listeners on a deeper level. See more about this here.
7. The Hierarchy of Rhymes
There are several kinds of rhymes that exist for songwriters to use when writing lyrics:
Perfect Rhyme – "well, sell," "chase, face," and "saw, flaw".
Masculine (Single Rhyme) – "wide/slide" or with the last syllable of a longer word, "free/debris".
Feminine (Double Rhyme) – "ended/pretended", always working with the stressed syllable.
Triple Rhyme (Trisyllabic Rhyme) – "chaseable/embraceable".
Assonance Rhyme – "rope, known" and "straight, fame" but all weaker.
Consonance Rhyme (Half Rhyme, Off Rhyme) – "soon/own" and "caw/men".
Additive Rhyme – "stow, hope" and "year, feared".
Subtractive Rhyme – Examples include "bake, stay" and "shout, now".
Family Rhyme – using their phonetic family: "wet, deck," "dame, grain," and "float, yoke". The phonetic families include plosives (b, d, g, p, t, k), fricatives (v, TH, z, zh, j, f, th, s, sh, ch), and nasals (m, n, ng). I love writing with this.
Mosaic Rhyme – composite rhymes using one or more syllable words matched with different syllable words such as "poet" and "know it".
Mosaic rhyme is my favorite rhyme scheme because it allows for unique rhythmic patterns and a broader range of word choices. You can find more information about mosaic rhyme here.
In Summary
Understanding and creatively applying rhyme schemes is a fundamental skill for songwriters. They provide structure, enhance flow, and contribute to your songs' overall memorability and emotional impact.
Don't be afraid to experiment with different patterns and rhyme types to find what best serves your unique voice and message.
Questions
Here are a few questions to ponder about rhyme schemes in your own songwriting:
What are some of the rhyme schemes you naturally gravitate towards, and why do you think that is?
How consciously do you consider rhyme schemes when writing your lyrics?
Can you identify a song where the rhyme scheme particularly enhances its message or emotion?
Hope this helps!
Simon.