Practical examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format

Starting with real examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format

Before we talk about “rules,” let’s start with how this looks in practice. Here’s a simple verse in ABAB format:

A: You left your jacket hanging on my chair
B: Coffee getting cold beside the sink
A: I tell myself that I don’t really care
B: But every little thing makes me think

That’s ABAB because:

• “chair” (A) rhymes with “care” (A)
• “sink” (B) rhymes with “think” (B)

This is one of the best examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format in action: short, clear lines, conversational language, and rhymes that feel natural instead of forced.

Now let’s pull out several examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format and walk through them one by one.

Example of building an ABAB verse from a single image

A reliable starting point is to build your verse around one strong image and let the ABAB rhyme scheme support it instead of lead it.

Imagine the core idea: “I’m stuck in the same routine after a breakup.” You pick an image: a looping playlist.

You might write:

A: Same four songs spinning on repeat
B: Curtains closed, it’s always 2 a.m.
A: I wear the grooves out pacing with my feet
B: Your name pops up, I almost text again

Why this works as an example of an ABAB verse:

• “repeat” / “feet” give you the A rhyme.
• “a.m.” / “again” give you a loose, near B rhyme.
• Everything in the verse circles the same image: looping songs, repeating behavior.

One of the most practical examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format is this: choose the picture first, rhymes second. When you lock in the emotional image, you avoid random, filler lines that only exist to rhyme.

Using conversational phrasing: examples include modern pop and TikTok hooks

Modern 2024–2025 songwriting leans heavily into conversational phrasing. Verses often sound like texts, DMs, or voice notes. ABAB works beautifully with this style.

Try this everyday, talk-like example of an ABAB verse:

A: You said, “It’s not you, it’s just bad timing”
B: Funny how your timing’s always fine
A: Now every song I hear feels like it’s rhyming
B: With all the things you never said in mine

This gives you:

• A rhyme: “timing” / “rhyming”
• B rhyme: “fine” / “mine”

Here, one of the best examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format is to write the verse like you talk, then lightly shape it into ABAB. Don’t start by chasing rhymes. Start by writing what you’d actually say to the person, then:

• Trim extra words.
• Adjust word order a little.
• Swap a phrase so the end words can rhyme.

That’s how a lot of current pop and indie writers keep their ABAB verses sounding fresh.

For a deeper look at lyric writing craft (even though it’s not ABAB-specific), the Berklee Online songwriting resources are a solid reference point: https://online.berklee.edu/takenote/category/songwriting/

H2: Rhythm-first examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format

Sometimes your rhythm matters more than the exact words. Many hit songs are written by mumbling a melody over chords first, then layering in lyrics that fit the rhythm and rhyme pattern.

Imagine you have a melody that naturally stresses words like this:

DA-da DA-da DA-da (A)
da-DA da-DA da-DA (B)
DA-da DA-da DA-da (A)
da-DA da-DA da-DA (B)

You might end up with an ABAB verse like:

A: Late night, headlights blur the road ahead
B: Radio’s too loud for me to think
A: I chase the words I wish I’d never said
B: Let every mile push your name to the brink

In this example of rhythm-first writing:

• The stressed syllables land in similar spots in each line.
• “ahead” / “said” form your A rhyme.
• “think” / “brink” form your B rhyme.

One of the most underrated examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format is to hum nonsense syllables first (la-la, da-da), lock in the groove, and then swap in real words that rhyme in ABAB. This is how many pro topliners work in pop and EDM sessions.

H2: Modern rhyme choices – examples of near rhymes in ABAB format

If your ABAB verses feel stiff, you might be using rhymes that are too perfect and predictable. 2024–2025 pop and hip-hop are full of near rhymes, slant rhymes, and vowel echoes.

Here’s an ABAB verse using near rhymes:

A: You’re a storm I still track on my phone
B: Blue alerts lighting up my screen
A: I moved out but I’m never alone
B: Your forecast lingers in every scene

Rhymes here:

• A rhyme: “phone” / “alone” – not identical, but close enough.
• B rhyme: “screen” / “scene” – a cleaner rhyme.

This gives us another one of the best examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format:

• Use near rhymes when exact rhymes sound cheesy or predictable.
• Pay attention to matching vowel sounds (phone / alone) more than exact spelling.

If you want to study rhyme types in a more academic way, the Poetry Foundation has helpful resources on rhyme and meter that easily transfer to songwriting: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/rhyme

H2: Examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format that tell a mini-story

Great verses often feel like tiny short stories: setting, character, conflict, and a hint of change. ABAB is perfect for this because the alternating rhymes create a natural sense of movement.

Here’s a story-driven ABAB verse:

A: You took the last train out of our small town
B: Suitcase full of postcards and receipts
A: I watched the platform fade when I looked down
B: Your shadow slipped between the tracks and streets

Why this is a strong example of tips for writing verses in ABAB format:

• There’s a clear setting (small town, train platform).
• There’s action (you leaving, me watching).
• The ABAB pattern (town/down, receipts/streets) keeps the verse musical while the story unfolds.

If your verses feel vague, try this approach:

• Line A1: Where are we? Who’s there?
• Line B1: What detail makes this moment specific?
• Line A2: What is the character doing or feeling?
• Line B2: What image or consequence hints at what comes next?

Write that first, then tweak end words to fit ABAB.

H3: Emotional contrast – examples include hopeful vs. bitter lines

Another powerful example of tips for writing verses in ABAB format is to use contrast between the A lines and B lines.

Think of A lines as one emotional color, and B lines as another. For example, A lines could be hopeful, while B lines are bitter or realistic.

Example ABAB verse with emotional contrast:

A: I keep a key for you under the light
B: But I know you changed your lock last year
A: I set a place for you most every night
B: Then eat alone and scroll away the fear

Here:

• A lines show hope and habit (key, place at the table).
• B lines show reality and pain (changed lock, eating alone).

This is one of the clearest examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format that hit emotionally: let the rhyme scheme mirror the push and pull inside the character.

H2: Real examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format from genre trends

Different genres use ABAB a little differently. Looking at real-world usage gives you more examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format that match your style.

Pop and alt-pop (2024–2025)

Current pop often uses:

• Short, punchy ABAB lines.
• Conversational phrasing.
• Near rhymes and internal rhymes.

A pop-flavored ABAB verse might look like:

A: You left your charger but took all the blame
B: Said you’re the problem, then you hit delete
A: I keep your number saved under a fake name
B: Just in case your ghost decides to hit repeat

This verse leans into:

• Tech language (charger, delete, number, repeat) that feels current.
• ABAB rhymes (blame/name, delete/repeat).

Folk and singer-songwriter

Folk tends to favor storytelling and imagery over flashy rhymes.

Example ABAB verse in a folk style:

A: We planted cherry trees behind the shed
B: Your hands were stained with dirt and July rain
A: Now every spring I see their branches spread
B: And feel you walking through this yard again

Here, the ABAB pattern is gentle and almost invisible because the story and imagery carry the weight.

For more on narrative and imagery in songwriting, the Library of Congress has materials on American folk songs that can inspire structure and language: https://www.loc.gov/collections/folklife-collection/about/

H2: Step-by-step example of drafting your own ABAB verse

Let’s walk through a simple, practical example of tips for writing verses in ABAB format you can try right now.

Step 1 – Write a four-line paragraph in plain prose.
Say your idea is: “I’m stuck in my hometown while everyone else leaves.”

You might jot:

Everyone I grew up with is moving away. I keep seeing their posts from new cities. I’m still working the same job and driving the same streets. I feel like the town is shrinking around me.

Step 2 – Break it into four lines without worrying about rhyme.

Everyone I grew up with is moving away
I keep seeing their posts from new cities
I’m still working the same job and driving the same streets
I feel like the town is shrinking around me

Step 3 – Shorten and sharpen each line.

Everyone I knew is moving away
Their posts from new cities fill up my phone
I’m still on the night shift most every day
These streets feel smaller every time I’m alone

Step 4 – Shape it into ABAB.

Check the end words: away / phone / day / alone.
You can tweak to get cleaner A and B rhymes:

A: Everyone I knew is moving away
B: Their posts from brighter cities flood my phone
A: I clock in at the same job every day
B: These streets grow tighter when I walk alone

Now you’ve built a strong ABAB verse from a simple paragraph. This is one of the most practical real examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format: start messy, then carve the rhyme scheme into it instead of trying to write perfect ABAB lines from the first second.

H2: FAQ – short answers and examples

What are some quick examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format?

Here are a few fast, usable ideas:

• Start with one strong image (like a train station or a glowing phone screen) and build all four lines around it.
• Write your verse in plain prose first, then break it into four lines and adjust for ABAB.
• Use near rhymes when perfect rhymes sound cheesy.
• Let A lines and B lines contrast in emotion (hope vs. doubt, anger vs. nostalgia).

Can you give an example of turning a non-rhyming verse into ABAB?

Sure. Start with:

I’m tired of pretending I’m fine. I keep saying I’m okay, but I’m not. I stay up too late thinking about everything I lost. No one really knows how bad it is.

Shape it into four lines:

I’m tired of pretending I’m fine
I keep saying I’m okay, but I’m not
I stay up too late tracing every line
Of all the things I had and then forgot

Now you have ABAB (fine/line, not/forgot).

Are there examples of ABAB verses that don’t feel sing-songy?

Yes. Many modern writers use longer lines, internal rhymes, and near rhymes to keep ABAB subtle. For example:

A: You talk in circles till the room begins to spin
B: I trace the patterns in the carpet with my shoes
A: You say you’ll change, but I don’t know where to begin
B: I’m running out of ways to dress up bad news

The rhyme is there, but the focus stays on the story and emotion.

Is ABAB only for verses, or can I use it in choruses too?

You can absolutely use ABAB in choruses. Verses often use ABAB because it’s easy to tell a story in that pattern, but plenty of choruses use it as well. The main difference: choruses repeat, so you’ll want lines that are hooky and memorable.

Where can I study more about rhyme and lyric writing?

While not verse-format-specific, these are good starting points:

• Berklee Online songwriting articles: https://online.berklee.edu/takenote/category/songwriting/
• Poetry Foundation glossary on rhyme: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/rhyme
• Library of Congress folk song resources: https://www.loc.gov/collections/folklife-collection/about/

When you put all these real examples of tips for writing verses in ABAB format together, you get a repeatable process: start with a clear image or feeling, write it in plain language, then gently shape your lines into ABAB using natural, modern rhymes. With practice, the rhyme scheme stops feeling like a cage and starts feeling like a rhythm you can dance inside.