Free tool · Syllable counter

Syllable counter for lyrics

Paste or type your lyrics. You get the syllables in every line and the total, live as you type. It is an estimate: English spelling has plenty of exceptions, so check any odd word by saying it out loud.

How to use the syllable counter

Paste a verse, a chorus or the whole song. Each line gets its own count, so you can put lines side by side: if line one of verse one has 8 syllables and line one of verse two has 11, the second one may be hard to sing to the same melody. Edit the words and the counts update as you type.

Why syllables matter in a song

A melody has a set number of notes, and every syllable needs at least one note. When the counts of matching lines drift apart, you end up cramming words in or stretching one word over three notes. Counting is the quick way to find the line that feels wrong before you try to sing it.

The count is only half of it. Where the stress falls matters just as much: "reCORD" and "REcord" have the same two syllables but sit on a melody very differently. Once the numbers match, sing the line and listen for any word that lands on the wrong beat.

Quick fixes when a line is too long

Cut filler words like "just", "really" and "so". Swap a long word for a shorter one with the same meaning. Contract where it sounds natural: "I am" to "I'm", "do not" to "don't". And if the line really needs the words, change the melody to fit, not the other way round.

Common questions

How accurate is the syllable counter?

It is an estimate. English spelling does not follow fixed rules, so it uses the common patterns (vowel groups, silent e, -ed and -es endings) plus a list of words that break them. It gets most everyday words right. Names, slang and made-up words are where it slips, so count those yourself. Numbers written as digits and words with accents are not counted, so spell them out.

How do I count syllables by hand?

Say the word slowly with your hand under your chin. Each time your jaw drops is one syllable. Clapping each beat of the word works too.

How many syllables should a line in a song have?

There is no set number. What matters is that lines meant to match, like the same line in verse one and verse two, have about the same count and the stresses land in the same places.

Does it count stressed syllables?

No, only the total per line. Read the lines aloud to the melody to check where the stresses fall.

Are my lyrics saved or sent anywhere?

No. The counting happens in your browser and nothing is sent or stored. Refresh the page and the text is gone, so copy your lyrics somewhere safe.

Keeping a song? songdrafts keeps the key, tempo and lyrics on every song, next to every take of it.