A rhyme scheme is the pattern of end rhymes across the lines of a verse. Understanding them lets you write more intentionally and recognize what makes a lyric feel satisfying — or unsatisfying.
Quick Answer
A rhyme scheme is labeled by assigning a letter to each line's ending sound — lines that rhyme share a letter. The most common schemes: AABB (couplets — lines 1&2 rhyme, 3&4 rhyme), ABAB (alternating — lines 1&3 rhyme, 2&4 rhyme), and ABCB (only lines 2&4 rhyme — the most natural-sounding in country and folk).
How to read rhyme scheme notation
The notation is simple: write out the last word of each line, then label them with letters. "A" goes to the first sound. When a later line ends with a rhyme to A, it also gets "A." When a new, unrhymed sound appears, it gets the next letter — B, then C, and so on.
The scheme ABAB means: line 1 and line 3 rhyme (both are A), and line 2 and line 4 rhyme (both are B). The pattern resets at the start of the next stanza.
The major rhyme schemes — with examples
AABB
Rhyming couplets
Consecutive pairs rhyme. The simplest and most immediately satisfying pattern. Common in folk, children's songs, and early rock.
The night was dark and cold as stone [A]
I walked these streets here all alone [A]
The fire burned until the dawn [B]
And just like that you were gone [B]
ABAB
Alternating rhymes
Lines 1&3 rhyme; lines 2&4 rhyme. Creates forward momentum — the listener anticipates the echo. Widely used in pop, rock, and folk.
I found you standing in the rain [A]
Your eyes were searching for a sign [B]
I should have known it all in vain [A]
That you were never really mine [B]
ABCB
Ballad stanza / common meter
Only lines 2 and 4 rhyme. Lines 1 and 3 introduce unrepeated sounds. This is the most natural and conversational rhyme scheme — a staple in country, folk, and blues.
She left her coat beside the door [A]
And walked into the night [B]
I watched the city from the floor [C]
And waited for the light [B]
ABBA
Enclosed / envelope rhyme
Lines 1&4 rhyme, lines 2&3 rhyme. The outer lines "enclose" the inner couplet. Creates a circular, reflective feeling — common in sonnets and introspective lyrics.
I hear your voice inside my head [A]
The sun is sinking in the west [B]
I never gave myself a rest [B]
From all the things I left unsaid [A]
AAAA
Monorhyme
Every line rhymes. Intense and relentless — can feel overwhelming in a verse, but electrifying in a hook or a battle rap. Used extensively in hip-hop for bravura passages.
I said I'd never stop this grind [A]
I left the fear and doubt behind [A]
I had a vision in my mind [A]
And now I'm leaving it all signed [A]
ABAC
Extended alternate
Lines 1&3 rhyme (A), but lines 2 and 4 don't rhyme with each other (B and C). Adds tension by offering one anchor rhyme without resolving the other — common in blues.
I woke up this morning [A]
Sun was coming through [B]
I thought about my longing [A]
And all that I've been put through [C]
Rhyme schemes by genre
Genre
Common schemes
Why
Pop & rock
AABB, ABAB
Immediate, satisfying, easy to sing along — listeners register the rhyme quickly
Country & folk
ABCB, ABAB
ABCB sounds conversational and story-like, fitting the narrative tradition
Hip-hop & rap
AABB, AAAA, complex multi-rhyme
Density of rhyme signals skill; multi-syllabic and internal rhymes layer on top of end-line scheme
Blues
AAB (twelve-bar), ABAC
AAB repeats a line then resolves — a call-and-response structure built into the form
Sonnet (poetry)
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Shakespearean sonnet structure — three alternating quatrains plus a closing couplet
Gospel & hymns
ABCB (common meter)
Common meter (8-6-8-6 syllables with ABCB) is the backbone of the hymn tradition
Find rhymes for any word to build your scheme →
Tips for choosing and using a rhyme scheme
Tip 1
Match scheme to emotional tone
AABB feels decisive and energetic. ABCB feels reflective and conversational. ABBA feels circular and introspective. Pick the scheme that fits the mood, not just the one that's easiest to write.
Tip 2
Keep verses and choruses consistent
Use one scheme for verses and a different (often simpler) scheme for the chorus. Switching scheme between sections signals a structural shift to the listener.
Tip 3
Break the scheme for impact
Setting up a pattern and then deliberately breaking it in one line creates a jolt. The unrhymed line stands out precisely because everything around it rhymes.
Tip 4
Analyze your favorite songs
Write out the last word of each line and label the scheme. Most songs reveal simple patterns — the craft is in the words chosen within that structure, not the structure itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
A rhyme scheme is a pattern of end rhymes in a poem or song. Each line's ending sound is labeled with a letter — lines that rhyme with each other get the same letter. A new sound gets the next letter in the alphabet. For example, in an ABAB scheme, lines 1 and 3 rhyme (A) and lines 2 and 4 rhyme (B).
AABB (consecutive couplets) and ABAB (alternating rhymes) are the most common in pop and rock. ABCB — where only lines 2 and 4 rhyme — is extremely common in country and folk, and often sounds the most conversational and natural.
ABAB means lines 1 and 3 rhyme with each other (A), and lines 2 and 4 rhyme with each other (B). The rhymes alternate. This pattern creates forward momentum and a sense of anticipation — the listener waits for the third line to echo the first.
ABCB means only lines 2 and 4 rhyme — lines 1 and 3 don't rhyme with anything. Each A and C line introduces a new sound that is never matched. This scheme sounds very natural and conversational, which is why it's a staple of country, folk, and blues.
Write out the last word of each line in a verse or chorus. Assign "A" to the first word. If a later line ends with a word that rhymes with it, also label it "A". When you encounter a new sound that doesn't rhyme with anything before it, give it the next letter. Continue through the stanza.