When I first started writing songs, I didn’t give any thought to rhyme schemes at all. Without realizing it, I used the same two rhyme schemes over and over for five years: ABAB and AA. My writing got stale and boring, but it took me a while to realize that the overused rhyme schemes were my problem. Feeling stale? Try a fresh new rhyme scheme. Whether you’re writing poetry, rap lyrics, or songs in any musical genre, different rhyme schemes pull different material out of you. Trying out a new rhyme scheme disrupts your usual habits and unlocks new ideas. And just like a chord progression, each rhyme scheme creates patterns of suspense and release. Rhyme can make words themselves sound beautifully musical. Below I’ve listed some four-line rhyme schemes for you to play with. Schemes you’re unfamiliar with may feel a bit strange at first, but stick with them–they can lead to real breakthroughs in your songwriting. abab An interlocking rhyme scheme. Rhyme line 1 with line 3; also line 2 with line 4. A classic, often-used rhyme scheme. xaxa This scheme’s a little looser and less predictable than some of the others. Rhyme lines 2 and 4; make sure that lines 1 and 3 don’t rhyme. The two non-rhymed lines will allow you some freedom–and save mileage on your rhyming dictionary. ( you do have one, right?  Or an App like B-Rhymes Pro?) aabb This scheme divides a section of four lines into two rhymed couplets, each of which sounds kind of complete  unto itself. aaaa This one’s tough to pull off. To relieve monotony, you might try making some of the lines much shorter than the others—varying line length will make it sound less predictable. axaa Line 2 is all alone, left hanging. This scheme contains a bit of tension–try it and see. abba A rhyming pair sandwiched inside of another rhyming pair. axxa Like XAXA above, AXXA is a wild card. The two middle lines are unpredictable; they don’t rhyme with each other or any other line in the stanza. This one’s a personal favorite of mine; I like the way those two middle lines keep the audience in suspense. I also like the way the last line releases the tension. Exercise If you’ve been mostly using ABAB and AABB like I was, try one of the rhyme schemes above for the verse sections of your next song. Write the scheme at the top of the page and get started–if you need a song idea, no worries–you can free write until an interesting lyric premise falls out.

That's such great advice. Definately going to play around with these new rhyme ideas. Thanks Eddie.

One of my approaches is to never use any hard rhymes, unless I just can't find any soft ones that do the job........Gus

I prefer to think of and view rhyming schemes vertically, corresponding to the lines of verse where the rhyming words appear. For example, I would write the "abab" rhyming scheme as follows: a b a b In turn, the limerick rhyming scheme (lines 1, 2, and 4 rhyme, with a double rhyme within line 3) would be written as follows: a a b-b a I always write a song's music before I attempt to write any lyrics. Oftentimes, the music will suggest its own rhyming scheme. For example, I have at least a couple of songs, where the music suggested the following rhyming scheme (lines 1 and 2, lines 3 and 6, and lines 4 and 5 rhyme): a a b c c b Finally, wherever possible, I try to rhyme more than one word between lines, like this: When shopping for a honey Don't be dropping too much money

Hey, folks!   Just thought I'd mention a great online resource you could use when working on your lyrics. It's a site called "Word Hippo", and it's got all kinds of cool  features, such as a rhyming dictionary, thesaurus, etc.  Check it out at www.wordhippo.com

This is awesome Dale thanks so much. I've just saved the link to my favs

Has anyone ever heard of Masterwriter? If so, what do you think of it.

Has anyone ever heard of Materwriter? It helps with song writing. If so, what do you think of it?

Billie Kay - I have heard of "Masterwriter".  From what I've read about it (and some of the screen shots I've seen of it), it appears to be very comprehensive software for songwriters. If it's affordable to you, it would no doubt be a good investment.  However, it IS pretty pricey, at least from what I've seen. I saw it one place listed for around $500, if I remember correctly.  It seems to me that there is a "trial" version available for download, with limited abilities. But most of the trial versions of software are usually good enough to give the user a good idea of how the software works and what the "full" version offers. Some trial versions of software either don't allow you to save anything, some don't offer all capabilities, etc, and then some even come with a trial period of usually 30 days or so. Hope this helps!!! 

Most of us are familiar with the old classic TV shows from years ago, as well as their memorable instrumental theme songs. But did you know that many of the instrumental themes for these shows actually had lyrics? I thought I'd share some of them here just for fun. Theme from "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" (the more popular one that was used when the show "went color")Lyrics by Buddy KayeMusic by Hugo Montenegro Jeannie, fresh as a daisyJust love how she obeys meDoes things that just amaze me soShe smiles, Presto the rain goesShe blinks, up come the rainbowsCars stop, even the train goes slowWhen she goes byShe paints sunshine on every rafterSprinkles the air with laughterWe're close as a quarter after threeThere's no one like...Jeannie. I'll introduce herTo you, but it's no use, sir'Cause my Jeannie's in love with me  Theme from "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW"Lyrics by Morey Amsterdam (Morey played the character of "Buddy Sorrell" on the show)Music by Earle Hagen So you think that you've got troubles? Well, trouble's a bubble So tell old Mr. Trouble to "Get lost!" Why not hold your head up high and Stop cryin', start tryin' And don't forget to keep your fingers crossed When you find the joy of livin' Is lovin' and givin' You'll be there when the winning dice are tossed A smile is just a frown that's turned upside down So smile, and that frown will defrost And don't forget to keep your fingers crossed!   Theme from "STAR TREK" (Original theme title was "Where No Man Has Gone Before")Lyrics by Gene Roddenberry ("Star Trek" creator)Music by Alexander Courage Beyond the rim of the star-light My love is wand'ring in star-flight I know he'll find in star-clustered reaches Love, strange love a star woman teaches I know his journey ends never His star trek will go on forever But tell him while he wanders his starry sea Remember, remember me   Theme from "BEWITCHED"Lyrics and Music by Howard Greenfield & Jack Keller Bewitched, Bewitched You've got me in your spell Bewitched, Bewitched You know your craft so well Before I knew what I was doing I looked in your eyes That brand of woo you've been brewin' Took me by surprise You witch, you witch One thing is for sure That stuff you pitch Just hasn't got a cure My heart was under lock and key But somehow it got unhitched I never thought that I could be had But now I'm caught and I'm kinda gladTo be Bewitched  Theme from "BONANZA"Lyrics and Music by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston We chased lady luck, 'til we finally struck BonanzaWith a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, planted a family treeWe got hold of a pot full of gold, Bonanza.With a horse and a saddle, and a range full of cattle, how rich can a fellow be?On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claimHere in the West, we're livin' the best, BonanzaIf anyone fights any one of us, he's go a fight with meBonanza.Hoss and Joe and Adam know every rock and pine, no one works, fights, or eats, like those boys of mineHere we stand in the middle of a grand BonanzaWith a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, we planted our family treeWe got hold of a pot full of gold, BonanzaWith a houseful of friends where the rainbow ends, how rich can a fellow be?On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claimHere in the west we're livin' in the best BonanzaWith the friendliest, fightingist, loving band, that ever set foot in the promised landAnd we're happier than them allThat's why we call it Bonanza...Bonanza...Bonanza...Bonanza! Theme from "I LOVE LUCY"Lyrics& Music by Harold Adamson & Eliot Daniel I Love Lucy and she loves meWe're as happy as two can beSometimes we quarrel but then againHow we love making up againLucy kisses like no one can She's my missus and I'm her man And life is heaven you see Cause I Love Lucy Yes I Love Lucy and Lucy loves me Theme from "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW" (a.k.a. "The Fishin' Hole")Lyrics and Music by Everett Sloane, Earl Hagen & Herbert Spencer Well, now, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole We may not get a bite all day, but don't you rush away What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin' stones You'll feel fresh as a lemonade, a-settin' in the shade Whether it's hot, whether it's cool, oh what a spot for whistlin' like a fool What a fine day to take a stroll and wander by The Fishin' Hole I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day We'll have no need to call the roll when we get to The Fishin' Hole There'll be you, me, and Old Dog Trey, to doodle time away If we don't hook a perch or bass, we'll cool our toes in dewy grass Or else pull up a weed to chaw, and maybe set and jaw Hangin' around, takin' our ease, watchin' that hound a-scratchin' at his fleas Come on, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' dayTheme from "M*A*S*H*"   (a.k.a. Suicide is Painless) Lyrics by Mike AltmanMusic by Johnny Mandel Through early morning fog I seevisions of the things to bethe pains that are withheld for meI realize and I can see...CHORUS:that suicide is painlessit brings on many changesand I can take or leave it if I please I try to find a way to makeall our little joys relatewithout that ever-present hatebut now I know that it's too late, and...[CHORUS]The game of life is hard to playI'm gonna lose it anywayThe losing card I'll someday layso this is all I have to say [CHORUS]The only way to win is cheatAnd lay it down before I'm beatand to another give my seatfor that's the only painless feat[CHORUS]The sword of time will pierce our skinsIt doesn't hurt when it beginsBut as it works its way on inThe pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...[CHORUS]A brave man once requested meto answer questions that are keyis it to be or not to beand I replied 'oh why ask me?'[CHORUS] End Theme from "ALL IN THE FAMILY"  ("Remembering You") Lyrics by Carroll O' Connor  (played "Archie Bunker" on the show)Music by Roger Kellaway  Got a feelin' it's all over now All over now we're through And tomorrow I'll be lonesome  Remembering you Got a feelin' the sun will be gone The day will be long and blue And tomorrow I'll be cryin' Remembering you  There's a faraway look in your eye when you try to pretend to me That ev'rything is the same as it used to be. I see it's all over now All over now we're through And tomorrow I'll be startin' Remembering….. Sad because we're partin' Remembering….. Consolate my heart in Remembering you  

I knew Bewitched and Bonanza, but not the others. Kewl!

Hey, this is news to me!How about the 1960's version of Hawaii - Five -0?I could picture this show's instrumental as a song with lyrics.

I looked for you, Carl - no luck on that one!   LOL

I love the Star Trek lyric especially!

I know exactly why, Gwyneth!   :)     It reminds me so much of your own particular style. 

Are you saying I'm a "Space Cadet"? LOL

Cool!  I knew Bonanza (Heard Johnny Cash sing it), I love Lucy, The Andy Griffith show, and MASH had lyrics but not the others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bczfyoafHBk

I had an idea for a fun group challenge - a group collaboration.  The idea is that each person add two lines to the lines that already exist.  There is no title yet, intentionally - hopefully, as the lyrics would progress, a title (or hook) would come to someone.  There is no storyline yet as well, also intentionally.  I thought we could all have some fun brainstorming on this one, to see what we come up with. If someone has a great idea for a chorus, go ahead and supply the two lines, but make sure that you let everyone else know that those two lines are the beginning of the chorus.If you come up with two lines to add to the existing lyrics, copy and paste the existing lyrics into a new reply, and add your two lines.  You can add more than 2 lines to the overall effort, but after adding your two lines, allow someone else to contribute the next couple lines. Maybe this will work, maybe it won't.  Maybe I've taken leave of my senses (wouldn't be the first time - LOL!)  Sometimes it's hard enough with just two people collaborating, LOL. This is the first time that something like this has ever been attempted on SongRamp in its 14 year history (that I'm aware of) so let's see what we can do and see what happens. Although it's a challenge, we may surprise ourselves, and make this a SongRamp first!  I'll start it off with two lines that kind of popped into my head. With the holidays right around the corner, maybe we could make this a holiday themed song?  Just an idea. It was a cold night in NashvilleAs she stepped out of the cab  

It was a cold night in Nashville As she stepped out of the cab Free spirit, hiding from life An angel in olive drab.