How many verses should a ballad have?

A ballad is a form of verse characterized by its simple structure and narrative content. While there are no strict rules regarding the number of verses in a ballad, most traditional ballads consist of three to twelve stanzas. However, some ballads may have as many as twenty or more stanzas. Each stanza typically contains four lines, with a consistent rhyme scheme. The most common rhyme scheme for ballads is ABAB, though other schemes such as ABCB or AABB are also used.