Write lyrics that really sing.
Rhyme is so ingrained in the craft of songwriting that we rarely even think to question it. But what exactly is rhyme, and why is it such an essential ingredient of song lyrics?
Jack and Jill
went up the hill…
The technical explanation of rhyme is dead simple: when two or more words contain similar consonant and vowel sounds, they rhyme. But the appeal of rhyme is tougher to pin down–and when it’s missing from a lyric, we find ourselves craving it.
At heart, rhyme is a way of playing with the sounds of language, creating patterns that sound musical even before you’ve set a word of your lyric to melody. As songwriters, we can train our ears to recognize and savor the music sounds hidden inside of words–weaving them into intoxicating blends of sound and meaning.
The Music Hidden in a Single Word
How to Use a Rhyming Dictionary Without Sounding Like a Tool
How to Use a Rhyming Dictionary Without Sounding Like a Tool, Part 2
Have You Mastered All 7 of These Basic Rhyme Schemes?
Three More Ways to Write Lines That Really Roll Off the Tongue
Above you’ll find a collection of song written’s best articles about how to savor the sounds of words–and how to write lyrics that almost sing themselves.
Thanks for reading.