Music Glossary

Hook

The catchiest part of a song, designed to grab and stick in the listener's memory.

A hook is the most memorable, attention-grabbing part of a song — the bit that 'hooks' the listener and lodges in their head. It is often a vocal phrase in the chorus, but a hook can be anything that catches the ear: an instrumental riff, a distinctive rhythm, a synth line or a production effect. Hooks are the commercial heart of popular music, and songwriters work hard to craft them, sometimes building an entire song around one irresistible idea. A strong hook is usually short, repeated and easy to sing along to, which is exactly what makes a song feel instantly familiar and keeps people coming back.

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