A hook is the main part of a song. And it’s usually the earworm of the track.

Most often, the hook has the most memorable melody of the song and lyrically expresses the main idea of the song. Because of this, the hook is often where the song title comes from.

A hook is usually a lyric of the chorus, either at the end or repeating throughout. Or it can be a standalone lyric, which is common in a Verse-Refrain song structure.

A hook can also be instrumental, even in a song with lyrics.

In my opinion, the difference between a chorus and a hook is length and catchiness.

A chorus is usually longer, provides more thematic context, and most of the time includes the hook. While a hook is often a one-liner that’s the most catchy part of the song, whether rhythmically, lyrically, and/or melodically.

You can’t really have a chorus without a hook (unless the hook is purely instrumental), but you can have a hook without a chorus. This is common in a Verse-Refrain song structure where the refrain/hook is one line at the end of each verse.

If the hook is purely instrumental, it’s often in the intro, the turns, and/or during the chorus.

Alright, let’s make this tangible. Here are some examples of the different types of hooks in songs…

A classic example of a rhythmic hook is “We Will Rock You” by Queen. From the moment you hear that stomp-stomp-clap beat, you know what song it is. On top of that, the main lyric is also somewhat of a hook – it’s an easy melody that most people can sing along to, thanks in part to its rhythm.

Lyrical hooks are most common in rap. A great example is Eminem’s “My Name Is.” The rhythm and talk-sing way he says the line makes the lyric get stuck in your head.

A recent example of a catchy hook is in JVKE’s “this is what falling in love feels like.” The melody for “This is falling, falling in love” is a catchy melody that is repeated twice with a variation on the second repetition.

From the first few guitar notes of “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, you know exactly what song it is. It’s one of the most played songs by guitarists. And for good reason – it’s fun to play and everyone knows it when they hear it.

I will never stop saying this: songwriting is subjective. Do what you want, whatever makes the song work. But below are some tips you can try if you want to write catchy hooks…

If your hook is the same as the rest of your chorus or verses, it won’t jump out to people as the hook. It will just feel like another part of the song. It won’t be memorable. You need to use contrast in your hook, whether in melody, rhythm, or surprising lyrics.

Rhythm can be just as catchy as a melody. Humans are rhythmic creatures. So give your hook a rhythm people can’t get out of their heads. Which means it first has to be a rhythmic melody that you can’t get out of your head.

A sideways melody moves from one note to the one next to it in the scale, either up or down. So if you’re in the key of A major and your melody starts on A, a sideways melody would go to either the B or G. Sideways melodies are catchy because they’re easy to remember.

But if you want to surprise the listener, use a leap within your sideways melody. A leap is simply skipping one or more notes in the ascending or descending sideways melody. The goal is to write a catchy melody that is both easy to remember but pleasantly surprising.

Sometimes, keeping your melody simple is the fastest path to catchyness. So try writing a hook that’s a one-note or two-note melody.

Surprising lyrics can really wake up the passive listener. It’s definitely a risk, but if the lyrics come from an authentic place and resonate with others, this method can work.

Take, for example, the jarring lyrics of Radiohead’s “Creep”…

But I’m a creep
I’m a weirdo
What the hell am I doin’ here?
I don’t belong here

If you’re trying to write a catchy hook, remove all the complex rhythms, melodies, and lyrics and just keep things simple. Simplify every aspect. It can lead to a more memorable hook.