Hooks, What They Are and How To Write Them Part I
Written by Dan Monk


Defining a Hook If you would ask five different songwriters to define a hook you would get at least ten different answers. But if you play a hook they could all identify it. So what's my definition? I'm glad you asked.

At it's most basic a hook is what you remember about a song. It's what 'hooks' you into the song. A couple of famous hooks are 'Baby Baby Don't get Hooked on Me' by Mac Davis and "Hooked on a Feeling" by B. J. Thomas. Most hooks are not quite so obvious. And hooks don't have to be verbal, there are many examples of musical hooks. Most Led Zeppelin songs come to mind.

So on one level the hook is a catchy phrase, verbal or musical. And very often it is the title. It doesn't have to be but it does make sense. One of the goals for a songwriter is to write songs that people remember. And since the title is how most songs are referred to, then it's only logical the title should be the most memorable part of the song, i.e. the hook.

Hooks also have another important attribute, they are a summation of the song. You should be able to describe what your song is about in one line. In the above mentioned 'Baby Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me' can you guess what the song is about?

Hooks are repeated thru the song. There is a sound reason for this. one very effective technique to increase your memory is repetition . The more you hear something the more likey you will remember it. Of course there is always the danger your hook could become annoying or the object of ridicule.

Which brings us to another attribute for hooks and the hardest to define. A hook should catch and hold the listeners attention. Songwriters use various methods to do that. Puns, place names, peoples names, phrase twists, etc. A good hook sounds familiar but isn't.

Writing a Hook

A disclaimer: the following is about writing a lyrical hook. I will be writing an article on creating music in a couple of weeks.

Which comes first, the song or the hook? For me it is much easier to start with a hook. However, if you have a song you want to write a hook for you really don't have much choice. So let's look at that method first.

Start by analyzing your song. What is it about? Why did you write the song? Read thru your lyrics, you may already have your hook. If a line jumps out at you read it to others and gauge their reaction. If you get a positive response you have your hook and now it's a matter of placing it in your song. We'll get to that in a minute.

First I'm going to create a hook using a song I wrote when I was fourteen. At the time I knew nothing about hooks or songwriting. I just wanted to impress a girl. Here's the song

Just One Look
copyright 2003 by Dan E. Monk

Just one look is all it took
and you stole my heart away.
But now you don't know what to do,
you don't know you have to pay.

For now you own more than my heart alone
you own my cares and woe.
How do you plan to understand
things I don't even know.

There are things that must never rust,
there are things that shouldn't die.
To be my wife for the rest of your life,
well that's my hearts price.

First of all 'Just One Look' is not a good hook for this song. There are too many songs already named 'Just One Look' and all are more famous. Also, the phrase 'Just One Look' refers to love at first sight, a theme which is not explored at all in this song. The theme here is more about ownership and payment. Which we will continue with in Part II


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(c) 1999, Dan E. Monk, All rights reserved. Reprinted here by permission.

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