One of the most used and effective resources to make the lyrics of a song memorable and provide its own musicality is the rhyme.
Detail of a poem Although it can be seen as an artifice typical of poetry, it has actually been used in other disciplines since ancient times. The songs are one of them. As sister arts, as literary genres, they share this fantastic resource to seduce us, to invite us to remember them and also, of course, to sing them.
What is rhyme?
The definition of rhymethe most common, at least, usually indicates that it is the repetition of a sequence of phonemes or verbal sounds, starting from the last stressed or strong syllable, in two or more nearby verses. You probably already heard about her at school. Maybe you'll even write some simple ones. Or, perhaps, at some point in your life you tried to write songs or poems. If so, you know what we're talking about. The rhyme produces a musical effect and, although it can occur in any position of the verse, it is most frequently found at the end and between verses that are not very far from each other, to maintain the cadence in the listeners' memory.
Types of rhyme in songs
Let's look at three classifications of rhyme that can occur between the verses of a song. According to its sound:
Consonant: when, starting from the last strong syllable, the sounds or phonemes are the same.Assonant: when, starting from the last syllable, the vowels are the same but at least one consonant does not match.
Consonant rhyme in English According to your accent:
Paroxytone: when the final word of the verse is plain. We count the total syllables.Oxytone: when the final word of the verse is acute. One syllable is added to the total verse.Proparoxytone: when the final word of the verse is esdrújula. One syllable is subtracted from the total verse. According to your repetition scheme:
Continue: when the rhyme that is repeated throughout the entire stanza (AAAA).Twin: when the rhyme that is repeated in pairs (AABB)..Hugged: when a set the outer verses have a different rhyme than the inner ones (ABBA).Crusade: when the even verses rhyme with the even ones and the odd ones with the odd ones (ABAB).braided: when a non-consecutive cross rhyme unites different stanzas (ABC BCD CDE…).Internal: when the rhyme happens within the same verse.
Songs and rhyme
The truth is that rhyme, of course, is not mandatory for writing song lyrics. There are many known examples that do not use rhyme to present their story, their message, their speech. But it is no less true that, in one way or another, the vast majority of songs resort at some point to the use of rhyme, in any of its forms. Rap, for example, makes intensive use of rhyme in many of its forms. It is an essential part that almost defines it as a musical genre or style.
starting to rhyme
Rhyme and structure
Song lyrics usually group their content into sections. Verses and chorus are usually the basis of any song and some also have other differentiated parts such as the bridge, for example. These sections of the lyrics, in terms of meter and rhyme, can be similar or different. In general, some degree of contrast between them is sought to enhance the sound variety of the text, to enrich it and also to maintain and renew auditory interest during the course of the song. Rhyme is one of the factors that will provide continuity or provide something new to the flow of the verses. If the rhyme used changes a lot between sections, the effect will be more pronounced and, let's say, surprising. In principle, it will attract more attention. If you continue with a similar type of rhyme, you will perceive an evolution, a closer connection between the different sections.
Podcast episode dedicated to rhyme in songs
To rhyme or not to rhyme
So, the big question. Should I use rhyme to write my letters? And, if I want to do it, to what extent? or what kind of rhyme? There is no easy, general and definitive answer to these questions. Luckily, there are many possibilities. You can use a consonant rhyme that sounds stronger and more closed, so to speak, or an assonant rhyme that provides a softer or more discreet, less marked musicality. You can use classic poetic form structures such as the sonnet, quatrains or tenths. You can use them partially, combine them with each other, or make variations on some of them if that satisfies your verbal rhythm or your ear, and what you are writing flows the way you want. But you can also choose not to do it at all. You can choose to write based on the internal accents of the verses like the ancient feet of classical literature, in a more rhythmic and less melodic meter, so to speak. Finally, you should let your own musicality dictate what and how to rhyme. It is our particular way of expressing ourselves that will bring authenticity to our lyrics.
Verse and rhyme writing machine
Conclusions
Each lyricist is different and has their preferences, their rhythm, their style, in short. And each song is also a different story, a small unique space, that wants to explain itself, that aspires to be a complete work and, to a certain extent, self-sufficient. Writing song lyrics offers so many possibilities,… Different approaches, tones, details can be taken and each perspective will offer its own opportunities. Rhyme is one of them and it also has its space to happen and develop. In the songs, specifically, the rhyme will be part of the musicality of the song and, at the same time, it will share that musical scope with the rest of the sound elements that make up the song. Rhythm, harmony and, when recorded or performed live, the timbre of the instruments, the sound effects, the way of playing and singing of each musician involved, … will add up to give shape to the complete song. For all these reasons, rhyme is not alone in this scenario and does not need to carry as much musical weight as, for example, in poetry. We can rhyme or not rhyme. Also rhyme more or less frequently, with greater or less force, and use all kinds of combinations. A song may seem like poetry to you, but it is not a poem. Therefore, if you write song lyrics you may be “poetic” or your musical verses may exude poetry on their own, but, again, you will not be writing poetry, really. We do not need to be poets or feel like poets. Song lyrics are a type of literature, but don't be afraid, because explaining an everyday story to a friend can also be one. It is not something so strange for us, it is part of our usual way of expressing ourselves. So, there are no excuses. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. Think about something that matters to you, that moves you, and write the lyrics to a song. #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_column_with_background { padding: 10px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_column:not(:first-child) { margin-left: 20px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_paragraph { line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_segment_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_select_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_radio_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_checkbox_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_list_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_label { display: block; font-weight: normal; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_select, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_month, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_day, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_year, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date { display: block; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea { width: 200px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_checkbox { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_submit { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_divider { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_message { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_loading { width: 30px; text-align: center; line-height: normal; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_loading > span { width: 5px; height: 5px; background-color: #5b5b5b; }#mailpoet_form_3{border: 1px solid #fcb900;border-radius: 40px;text-align: center;}#mailpoet_form_3 form.mailpoet_form {padding: 20px;}#mailpoet_form_3{width: 70%;}#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_message {margin : 0; padding: 0 20px;}#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_paragraph.last {margin-bottom: 0} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_3 {background-image: none;}} @media (min-width: 500px) { #mailpoet_form_3 .last .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_column:last-child .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} Please leave this field emptyDo you write songs or would you like to?
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