Hooks and Riffs

We hear about the hook in songwriting as if it's the most important element of a successful song. In the pop songwriting world, that's not far off from the truth. But it can be a tricky element to describe accurately, because for obvious reasons, no two hooks are the same.


But we do know some things for sure. Most hooks blend together three crucial ingredients: an enticing bit of melody, a catchy rhythm, and a short, strong chord progression.


"Hooks and Riffs" discusses this vital element of music, that bit that's responsible for audiences wanting to hear your song over and over again. It takes a close look at 15 classic hits and discusses how the writers layered hooks for maximum effect.


The eBook finishes with three suggested step-by-step procedures for writing a song based on a hook: by focusing on melody first, rhythm first, and then chords first.

If you've been trying to get a hook to work -- to get something for your songs that waves a flag and grabs attention -- let this eBook show you how.