Advanced Songwriting Techniques: Rhetorical Devices with Lyrics (Anaphora, Epistrophe & Epanalepsis)

Download Your Free Songwriting Handbook Now: berkonl.in/3wSocKI
Earn Your Songwriting Degree Online with Berklee: berkonl.in/3wNQbv0
Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. And as you’ll learn in this video from the Berklee Online graduate-level course, Songs Unmasked: Techniques and Tips for Songwriting Success, rhetorical devices are tools and techniques you can use in your songwriting to make it persuasive, memorable, and impactful. In fact, we employed a rhetorical device in the previous sentence by listing three adjectives: “persuasive, memorable, and impactful”-this device is known as the rule of three. An idea can feel more emphasized, persuasive, or complete when it is part of a triad, a threesome, a trio. And this is absolutely true when it comes to songwriting, says instructor Ben Camp, citing as an example in his course, “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” It’s not only repeating things three times, but also knowing where and when to repeat them. An epistrophe is when a phrase is repeated at the end of each following verse (like the “let it snow” example), and it’s a great tool to unite ideas together. On the other end of the spectrum you have an Anaphora, which is when you start each verse with the same sentence (for example “Hey Jude” by the Beatles). And finally Epanalepsis is when you have both of these going at the same time (you can see that in “Yesterday” by the Beatles).
Learn more about this course: berkonl.in/3WbAMT2
ABOUT BEN CAMP:
Ben Camp teaches songwriting at Berklee College of Music. Their songs have appeared in film and TV on networks like MTV, CBS, NBC, Fox, and more. They have written singles for Brice Fox, Tiesto, Victoria Justice, Sam Feldt, and others. Ben’s mission as an educator is simple: Help you write the songs that only you can write.
About Berklee Online:
Founded in 2002, Berklee Online is the premier innovator and largest provider of worldwide music education, offering the renowned curriculum of Berklee College of Music at a fraction of the cost through award-winning programming and instruction. Contact an Academic Advisor today:
1-866-BERKLEE (US)
1-617-747-2146 (international callers)
[e-mail]
/ berkleeonline
/ berkleeonline
/ berkleeonline
/ berkleeonline
Advanced Songwriting Techniques | Ben Camp | Brice Fox | Tiesto | Victoria Justice | Sam Feldt | Let it Snow | Hey Jude | Beatles | Rhetorical Devices | Anaphora | Epistrophe | Epanalepsis | Song Development | Song Structure | Prosody | Lyrics | Song Titles

[@iainmackenzieUK]

Clear and helpful
Thank you !

[@BenG9C9]

This is a great topic. Writing lyrics is a very weak skill for me.