A Little Lyricist’s Hack: Playing with Syllable Patterns
Hello fellow songwriters and music lovers!
I’m Evelin Vordermeier, a bilingual lyricist based in sunny Perth, Australia, with a passion for crafting lyrics in English and German that perfectly fit melodies — whether I’m writing original words or adapting translations for artists like Rudy Giovannini.
One of the joys of my work is starting with an existing composition and listening deeply until the lyrics reveal themselves in the melody’s curves and pauses. It’s magical how the right words seem to hide there, waiting to be found.
To make my lyrics more appealing and versatile, especially for co-writers, I love experimenting with syllable patterns.
We all have our “go-to” rhythms — mine used to be a steady “Da DA da da da da da DA” — but repeating the same cadence can make you sound like a one-trick pony. So, I deliberately mix it up: trying lines with varying lengths and held notes, such as “Da DA da da da DAA DAA DAA” leading into a crisp “DA DA DA.”
These shifts — with shorter phrases, longer sustains, and unexpected emphases — give the melody room to breathe and inspire composers to craft something far more dynamic.
Try this hack next time you’re lyric-writing — it transforms good songs into unforgettable ones!
What are your favorite melody tricks? Share in the comments — I’d love to hear from you. ♡
Mit Liebe und Lyrics,
Evelin