#syllables

This is my very own post! I did research to compile a guide for this purpose. ✏️

Before we get started, I post content like daily writing prompts, vocabulary word of the day, and fun content like this!

It would make me happy if you’d follow my blog, as I’ll be building a newsletter for writers like you very soon!

Now, as promised, a formula for creating your very own sea shanty 🫶🏻

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Step 1:

Decide on a purpose for the shanty.

Is this going to be a working, adventuring, drinking, or mourning song?

Step 2:

Create a syllabic pattern for your verse and your chorus to help you make it have the iconic sound of a sea shanty.

8-6-8-6 is a popular choice for the verse. The numbers here are referring to the number of syllables in one line.

You may also use the same number of syllables or a pattern of your choosing. You could do 8-8-8-8 or even 6-6-8-8 if you like.

Here is one example:

(8) there once was a lady pirate queen

(6) her name Grace O’Malley

To understand more about syllabic writing, I would suggest learning about the Japanese Haiku (an easy place to begin).

Music Notes (Advanced):

You might also decide in this stage if you’re going to use a 4/4 beat or more of a 3/4 (like a waltz).

This would be relevant to the number of beats.

For example: a syllabic pattern of 8 might be more fitting to a 4/4 beat. A syllabic pattern of 6 or 9 to a 3/4.

If you’re using 8 and 6, then a 4/4 beat works well. At the end of the 6 lines you can add stomps or claps to complete the pattern.

Step 3:

We’re going to treat the next step like poetry class. Choose a pattern for your rhyme.

Commonly, you’ll find the pattern ABAB or AABB. You can choose whatever pattern you like. Some of them are more complex like ABCB. It’s your shanty, so write it how you like!

Here’s what that looks like:

(A) (8) there once was a lady pirate queen

(A) (6) her name Grace O’Malley

(B) (8) her heritage was Ireland

(B) (6) and she was a wild’n

Your pattern will depend on what feels right as you’re writing your verse.

Step 4:

Create a chorus that’s easy to remember, relevant to the story, and focuses on repetition.

“Lady of the sea

Lady pirate queen

Oh how I fancy me

A lady of the sea”

Step 5:

Put it together to tell a story! Here’s an example I wrote just for funsies:

(Grace O’Malley is a real historic figure who became a pirate and fought for Ireland!)

(A) (8) there once was a lady pirate queen

(A) (6) her name Grace O’Malley

(B) (8) her heritage was Ireland

(B) (6) and she was a wild’n

Chorus:

(A) (8) Lady of the sea (clap x4)

(A) (6) Lady pirate queen (stomp x3)

(A) (8) Oh how I fancy me (clap x2)

(A) (6) A lady of the sea

Step 6: Have Fun!

If you liked this post, comment below with a fun pirate GIF!