hook

A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to “catch the ear of the listener”. The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, R&B, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often found in, or consists of, the chorus. A hook can be either melodic or rhythmic, and often incorporates the main motif for a piece of music. “The hook is a phrase or word that literally hooks, or grabs, the listener and draws them into the song.” Examples of songs with hooks include The Beatles’s “Day Tripper” (opening guitar line), Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”, and Willie Nelson’s “Crazy”.

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