[stellahands]

Hey everyone!
I have had it drilled in to my head that the only way to write song's / verses is like this structure
ABAB and every last line has to rhyme with the corresponding line above the last. So

Verse 1
The cat found the dog,
they both found a pie,
then came the black fog,
so they both learned to fly.

But looking at structures and peoples amazing lyrics on here I am seeing the above isn't the case
and now I seem to be stuck. It has completely ruined how I used to write so open and freely I always have to find rhyming words. Does anybody have any advice on how to put my head back to how it was and a little help on writing verses with out it been rhyming like my example ? Really would mean a lot if you have the time to help MASSIVE THANKS!!!

[S.T.C]

There's some good Youtube videos you might look at or online articles......but just try writing without making every line rhyme with  another ; for e.g.

The cat found the dog,
they both found a pie,
then came the black cloud
so they both learned to fly.

[stellahands]

Thanks so much for taking your time to reply to my post.
I will try and find some articles but so far I can't seem to find
but thanks for the example I am looking in to this right now.

[Boydie]

I would just experiment with different rhyme schemes like STC has pointed out

Modern writing is also very strong on "internal" rhymes where words in the same line rhyme, as well as having a wider rhyming scheme

Also, non-perfect rhymes often sound better in modern songs as they sound more "conversational"

[Sing4me88]

Good advice given here. Internal rhyme can often add momentum to a lyric/song - Ke$ha would be a good example of that. Modern Pop also has a bit more edge where rhymes aren't always were one would expect. Cannot stress enough Boydie's advice on near rhymes, semi-rhymes or whatever one wants to call them. You can be more inventive with this rather than the Dr Zeus rhyming couplets stars above/love, tore my heart/apart etc.  You can also play about to keep a lyric dynamic and fresh by changing rhyming scheme ie AABB for verse ABAB for pre and the ABC ABC for chorus. No 'rules' as such but there are several tricks that are there in most modern pop hits that you can certainly follow - that is of course if commercialism is your aim. If not then you've the added bonus of being able to essentially suit yourself

[stellahands]

I have to say a MASSIVE THANKS to you all for giving me your time and opening my mind to
new and different structures. I have had it built in to me that the only way to write is the way I described it in the example however before I met the brainwasher my writing was so different and varied but now it's hard to get back to writing in different ways. But I will and I will check out all the different AABB ABBB and other ways on youtube and google and I'll get it back. SO MASSIVE THANKS to you all and I wish you all the best and nothing less!!!
Hopefully get a chance to share some lyrics with you on here sometime.

[adamfarr]

I can't resist quoting the inspirational but perhaps a tad over-exposed Pat Pattinson here:
"Mary had a little lamb
Fleece as white as snow
And everywhere that Mary went
She sold the fleece to pay the rent"

I think that says it all. Also some of the most creative rhymers are in hip-hop - so always good to delve into some rap from time to time. Artists like Arctic Monkeys or Blur combine that feel with more of a poppy style...

Listening to good stuff can only help with writing good stuff.

Rule 1 - there are no rules (except what sounds good!)

[stellahands]

I agree listening to good stuff brings out the best of you,
Love Oasis and Noel's albums ( but good stuff is different to everyone )
But I like there are no rules that puts me right at ease with writing, hopefully
I can get some lyrics posted for you all to see. Thanks again everyone!!!!

[digger72]

Hi,

You could try writing the melody first then sing random words to the melody giving no thought to meaning, etc. Basically you're just after word sounds that fit to the melody. For me this usually throws up quite odd combinations that often don't rhyme. I then start fleshing this out with words, and don't really concern myself with whether they rhymes or not. As long as the melody works then i'm happy.

Digger

[Neil C]

An interesting and really hard one is to write a song without any rhymes
Hope it you get unstuck
 
Neil

[diademgrove]

My advice would be pick half a dozen to a dozen songs, write them out and look at their rhyming scheme. Make sure the songs you pick have different rhyming schemes in the verses to the ABAB scheme you mention.

There are hundreds of guitar books with lyrics in them. What you get at the end of it is plenty of examples of hit songs that work without being ABAB.

You could, if you are stuck then write a new song with the same number of syllables and the same rhyming scheme.

Hope this helps.

Keith

[Dogmax]

Brainwash, kind of takes your freedom away so lets take the structuring of verses now thats up to you.

A verse is a line of words that you're writing so lets strip it down a bit, what are you going to start with, words and where are you going to get those words from, within you and what you see around you, communicating within you.

A verse will write itself but they're your words so that mean its up to you to write them, guide them into the right places and lay them down where they belong.

Everyone has their own way as you can read from replies, warm welcome to you.

[Boydie]

I just wanted to add one thing...

I actually think you have done the RIGHT thing by sticking to a set of "rules" and whoever drilled that into your head probably had the best intentions

The reason I say that is when you are starting out in songwriting I personally think your songs will sound "better" (ie more professional and like what is played on the radio so people listening are more likely to subconsciously recognise the similarities between your songs and the ones on the radio therefore your songs must be "good")

You will have also learnt a little about the "discipline" of song/lyric writing by sticking to a rigid structure - even if you come up with completely different rhyming schemes, there will always come a time when you are sweating over that killer rhyme or word in a non-rhyming situation

I would therefore challenge you and say you haven't been "brainwashed" or that you have wasted your time - I would put a much more positive spin on it and say that you have learnt one approach to writing songs and now you are hungry to learn different ways - and you have come to the right place so welcome to the forum, there are plenty of people here that will help, guide and answer any questions


I personally feel that the arrangement, structure, rhyme scheme etc. should be dictated by the "concept" of the song and the  message you are trying to communicate

A sad song may not have many rhymes, have lots of drawn out syllables and "held notes", with an "awkward" rhyme scheme to add some tension - eg the "cloud" in STC's excellent example

However,

If you are writing a really upbeat song then you may want to consider lots of rhymes, including internal rhymes; lots of syllables to keep the melody "bouncy"; a straight forward and predictable rhyme scheme so the listener can relax and be satisfied when the rhymes come in all the right places


It is true that there are no rules and the Songwriting Police are not going to come knocking at your door

BUT

There are proven "tips, tricks and tools" (which I still call "rules") that CAN be followed to help make you songs sound "better" to "joe public" (see definition above)

My view is that you SHOULD learn the rules by watching videos, reading articles and books - knowing the rules doesn't mean you have to follow them all the time and when you break them you can do it in a considered way to add IMPACT to your songs

Just my quick $0.02

[stellahands]

WOW you all make sense to me and I am ever so grateful for all the kind words and help,
I love the spin off thing that kinda made me feel differently and with everyone's opinions
I can look forward to trying new things and different structures. I was told that my example was
the only way to write a verse I did question it a few times as the person had written there own music
and it seemed to differ but still the answer stayed the same its ABAB or nothing and as the story goes they took my lyrics wrote song's with them but changed them so slightly I didn't get a look in.
( It is what it is ) So glad I found you lot that have taken the time to go out your way to help me and I have just noticed  you all have links to soundcloud and some youtube etc I will 100% be checking all your art out as soon as I am home and I really look forward to it! Great group even better people! MASSIVE THANKS to you all xx

[stellahands]

@Boydie Listening to all your music on soundcloud now Loving it!
Keep up the good work mate and when I can get on Twitter I'll ad ya
Loving breakdown and Edge of never! Will listen to all you guys n girls
I can't wait! Thanks everyone x