How to Write Hooks?
Five ideas to put in your songwriting toolbox
Think of some of your favorite pop songs. Chances are, they all have catchy hooks you can't get out of your head. That's because a great hook is essential to writing a hit song.
What is a hook?
A hook is a musical idea, a short riff, a passage, or a phrase, and it can be either melodic, rhythmic, lyrical, or all! Hooks are great to make the song appealing and "catch the ear of the listener". Some of the best hooks are found in the chorus of a song, but they can also be found in the verses or bridge.
How to make it hooky?
There are many ways of doing this, but here are some:
Keep it short and sweet – the best hooks are usually short and to the point – maybe just a few seconds long in the song. That's because a hook needs to be catchy enough to stick in your head, but not so long that it becomes unrememberable. And this leads to…
Make it memorable – your hook should be something that people can easily remember and sing along to. A good way to do this is to use repetition or wordplay. Or maybe use the hook in the title.
Use hooks throughout your song – a common mistake songwriters make is thinking of the hook as something that only belongs in the chorus. But hooks can (and should) be used throughout your song, in the verses, bridge, and even the intro and maybe outro.
Keep it fresh – if you find yourself using the same kinds of hooks over and over again, try mixing things up and experimenting with different sounds and rhythms. A little creativity can go a long way in making your song stand out from the rest.
Have fun with it! – writing hooks can be a lot of fun, so don't be afraid to experiment and play around with different ideas. The most important thing is to enjoy the process and let your creativity flow. And that will feel in your final song.
So, when you are writing your next song, make sure it’s catchy, it’s your own, and it fits the rest of the song to help make a song more memorable and appealing to listeners.
Examples
There are so many great hooks out there. Looking at Billboard’s 25 Best Catching Songs of All Time, here are the top 5 songs:
As you can see, hooks can be lyrical, rhythmic, musical. But, combining all of these together may the hook incredibly powerful. And these happen in all genres.
When you are songwriting, keep these tips in mind and try to create a hook that will make your song stand out.
Questions
Here are a few questions:
Looking at your favorite songs, where are the hooks in these songs, and how have they been set up?
How about keeping a list of great hooks in your Idea Bank?
How about trying to create one of these hooks in your songs?
Enjoy!
Simon