It’s fairly simple! But both syllables are handled differently. Make sure to have a look at the examples provided in this section, this should help you get a more intuitive understanding of these guidelines!

For the syllable that’s before the chord change

For the syllable that’s before the chord change, it depends how the syllable ends.

Ending of the syllable What to underline Examples
A consonant All the consonants at the end of the syllable last, world, makes, lungs, back, enough, walk, thought, ghost, sights, man’s, heart’s, darkness, nightstand, friendship, overthrew, forever, should’ve
A vowel Only that vowel my, go, you, tie, blue, hey, may, baby, gonna, goodbye, away, today, everyday, crying, novocaine, someone, never, future, closer, flashing, complicated, destination, peculiar
Structure of the syllable What to underline Examples
Some letters, then the consonants followed by an e The consonants and the e drive, alone, take, place, life, love, before, bridge, since, believe, inside, before, release, balance, everyone, recognize, I’ve, you’ve
Nothing before the consonants and the e Only the eā€”like for a normal vowel ending the, me, be

For the syllable that’s after the chord change

For the syllable that’s after the chord change, it depends how the syllable starts.

Starting of the syllable What to underline Examples
A consonant All the consonants at the beginning of the syllable precious, there, was, track, generation, bacteria, darkness, nightstand, friendship, overthrew, should’ve, never, future, closer, flashing, complicated, destination, peculiar
A vowel Only that vowel all, it, of, your, open, after, unfolds, explode, uninspired, forever, crying, novocaine, someone

Let’s put it all together now

Ending of the syllable Starting of the syllable Examples
A consonant A consonant in my, get real, help me, world was, spreads like, becomes the, troubled track, against the, something strong, man’s world, darkness, nightstand, friendship, overthrew, should’ve
A vowel A consonant happy for, karma police, every tear, really think, goodbye means, never, future, closer, flashing, complicated, destination, peculiar
Some letters, then some consonants followed by an e A consonant take me, here to, safe bet, please love, skyline fool, chance for, are stacked, take what, believe that, love child, you’ve gotta, we’re still
A consonant A vowel repeat itself, control and, tell you, child is, needs another, lost everything, being around, strong enough, arms around, now I’m, and I, tread a, night explode, forever
A vowel A vowel day unfolds, you oughta, way earthly, the engine, so uninspired, who I, way I’m, crying, novocaine, be unhappy
Some letters, then some consonants followed by an e A vowel place you’ve, have you, lose you, alone on, came and, there after, dance is, wide open, wake up, they’re all, come unstuck, have I, someone

How about double consonants?

As per the rules above, when the chord change happens between two syllables separated by a double consonant, just underline both consonants

For example: ribbon, sudden, coffee, begging, really, shallow, gonna, spinning, beginnings, happy, tomorrow, sorry, passion, messing, gotta, getting, mulatto