LEARN TO MAKE RAP BEATS

I want to emphasise the importance of a good "Hook" once again, and expand on the explanation: Have you ever caught yourself humming something under your breath over and over? And when you eventually realise it - the "tune" that you are humming, or whistling, is actually a radio advert selling soap or toothpaste or something? That is what a good "Hook" is all about - a melody combined with clever lyrics that are repetitive - and catchy enough - to stick in your subconscious long after the radio is off.

If you want your Guitar Song to reach the hit parade - it must have a mass Crossover Appeal to as many people as possible. Again - "crossover appeal" - means that your song has appeal to many sectors of the listening public, and is not specifically only rap or hard rock or rave etc. You do not want to exclude more than half of your possible buyers - and therefore negatively influence the songs sales potential. There are many beautiful and important songs that have no "Commercial Hooks" - such as Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms, that never reached the hit parades, yet their other song "Money for Nothing and Chicks for Free - " was a huge hit, simply because it had all the good hall-marks of what it takes to have a hit: A catchy tune, clever lyrics, and a very clever Hook Line that is the same as the title - that had everyone singing along. Love it or hate it - it grabs your attention! I personally prefer the "Brothers In Arms" cut.

There are various types of hooks, here is a short description of each:

Instrumental Hook: Neil Young has a great bass riff on his E-minor opening chord sequence in Heart Of Gold, that repeats itself throughout the verse and lyrics, as a signature unique to that Song. It is immediately and distinctively recognisable. There are many great songs that have an opening instrumental sequence, or an instrumental sequence in a Pre-hook that makes the tune more recognisable than merely the lyrics themselves. Think of Hotel California by the Eagles, that has a great opening and closing sequence - their live recording.

Title or Theme or Story Line Hook: So often we remember a catchy tune or great song, but not the lyrics - but are aware that it is something we would like to hear again. The group America with: "Been Through The Desert On a Horse With No Name - " comes to mind. Both the tune and the title - which is also the Chorus "Hook" is catchy and up-beat and unusual. I have always enjoyed that song - but for the life of me, I cannot remember the lyrics... or, Leonard Cohen: So Long Marianne - is another great tune and story. His number - Suzanne, is excellent and unusual as well.

Structural Hooks: This is normally where the Chorus is the Main Hook. Again, Neil Young In "Heart of Gold" - uses the title to very good repetitive effect to tie up the verses throughout with the Chorus parts: " I've been Looking for a heart of gold" - and - "I've been a miner for a heart of gold" - are good examples. Sometimes the Chorus is what dictates the Songs Structure, more than what the verses do.

Production Hooks: Think of the movie - Jaws, and the opening menacing sequence: Dum - de - Dum... Dum -de - Dum... or the brilliance of Mike Oldfield with his Tubular Bells recording, where one sequence was used to great eerie effect in the Stephen King thriller movie "Carrie". Again, a unique and unmistakable sound!

@ 2010 Copyright Peter S. Pentelbury