The hook is meant to be a simple line that is so catchy (both musically and lyrically) that it immediately grabs the listener’s attention and gets inside his or her head. But writers who are just starting out often create a hook phrase that is too long and too complicated for listeners to remember easily.
You can’t just write a melody for the title line in your chorus and call it ‘the hook’. If the melody and lyrics don’t stick in the listener’s mind, it’s not a hook. And many music publishers and A&R reps will reject a song if the hook doesn’t have ‘stickability’.
It’s hard to define what makes a hook ‘catchy’ and ‘sticky’, but it all comes down to creating a short lyrical and musical phrase that brings together connected sounds that are instantly memorable. For example, clever use of alliteration can make a hook lyric easier to remember—especially if you’re looking to create a sing-along or anthemic hook.
The hook line should also have a different melodic construction from the rest of the song so that it stands out.
Listen closely to the hooks from some of today’s biggest hits and you’ll see how simple and short they are. More than half of all hit songs have a hook phrase that is no more than three words and four beats long. You’ll also hear how successful writers make their hook even more memorable by repeating it many times through- out the song. The more they repeat it, the more it sticks.
When you’re writing a lyrical hook, remember that simplicity goes hand in hand with repetition. The song’s title is the only information you need to include in the hook. The song’s story should be told in the verses.
It is also important to build instant familiarity into the words used in a lyrical hook. That’s why so many song title hooks are derived from sayings and phrases that we hear every day. Something so familiar is reassuring to the listener and, subconsciously, makes the song easier to follow—increasing its ‘stick ability’.
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