hook

formhookfrom English

A catchy musical phrase designed to grab the listener's attention and be memorable.‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌

In Depth

A hook is the most memorable part of a song — the element that catches the ear and stays in the mind.‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌ It can be a melodic phrase, a rhythmic pattern, a lyrical line, a guitar riff, or even a production effect. The hook is what makes a song recognisable from its first few notes. In commercial songwriting, the hook is considered the most important element — it's what makes listeners want to hear the song again. Many hit songs are built around a single hook that repeats throughout. The opening riff of Smoke on the Water, the bass line of Under Pressure, and the chorus melody of Happy are all examples of hooks that became cultural phenomena.

Did you know?

Max Martin, the Swedish songwriter behind hits for Britney Spears, The Weeknd, and Taylor Swift, reportedly tests hooks by seeing if he can remember them the morning after writing them. If he can't, he scraps them.

Related Terms

chorus riff melody

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A palindromic musical structure that mirrors itself around a central axis, typically ABCBA

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A self-contained song for a solo voice, typically in an opera or oratorio.

ars antiqua

A period of medieval Western music from approximately 1170 to 1310, characterized by the development of early polyphony.

ars nova

A musical style of the late medieval period (c. 1310–1377), notable for its rhythmic innovation and increased complexity.

bagatelle

A short, light piano piece, often of modest technical demands

bass drop

A dramatic moment in electronic music where a deep, sub-bass frequency is suddenly introduced.

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