Songwriters Rhyme Schemes and Meter Questions and Answers

Question 1

A songwriter creates a four-line verse with the following lyrical structure:

'I remember that September day (A)
We watched the clouds drift far away (A)
I never thought I'd see the end (B)
Of summer with my closest friend (B)'

Which rhyme scheme does this stanza represent?

Accepted Answer

AABB

Answer

This stanza uses an AABB rhyme scheme. The first two lines rhyme with each other ('day'/'away'), forming the 'AA' part. The next two lines rhyme with each other using a different sound ('end'/'friend'), forming the 'BB' part. This creates two rhyming couplets.

Question 2

In the study of lyrical meter, what is the fundamental repeating unit of rhythm, composed of a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables?

Accepted Answer

A foot

Answer

A 'foot' is the basic unit of measurement in poetic and lyrical meter. [5, 6, 12] It consists of a small group of syllables, typically two or three, in a specific pattern of stress (e.g., unstressed-stressed for an iamb, or stressed-unstressed for a trochee).

Question 3

A songwriter wants to create lyrics that have a natural, rising rhythm that feels like a heartbeat (da-DUM, da-DUM) and closely mimics common English speech. Which metrical foot would be most effective for achieving this?

Accepted Answer

Iamb (unstressed, stressed)

Answer

The iamb, with its pattern of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da-DUM), is the most common meter in English poetry and song. [25] It creates a rising rhythm that naturally mirrors the cadence of everyday speech and the rhythm of a heartbeat, making it ideal for lyrics that should feel smooth and natural.

Question 4

Which of the following rhyme schemes is most characteristic of the traditional 12-bar blues lyrical form, often featuring a repeated line followed by a concluding thought?

Accepted Answer

AAB

Answer

The traditional lyrical structure for a 12-bar blues song is AAB. [10, 14, 16] This involves stating a line (A), repeating that same line, often with a slight variation (A), and then delivering a concluding, rhyming line (B) that resolves or comments on the first two.

Question 5

A songwriter has a lyric that rhymes the word 'company' (COM-pa-ny) with 'to be' (to BE). This is considered an imperfect rhyme because the rhyming sounds fall on a stressed syllable in one line and an unstressed syllable in the other. What is this specific type of rhyme called?

Accepted Answer

Wrenched Rhyme

Answer

This is an example of a wrenched rhyme (also known as a light rhyme). [2, 3, 9] This type of imperfect rhyme occurs when a stressed syllable is rhymed with an unstressed syllable, forcing a slight, unnatural emphasis to make the rhyme work.

Songwriters Practice Test

Songwriters Practice Test

Songwriters Rhyme Schemes and Meter Questions and Answers