Writing the Chorus and Hook

The chorus and the hook are the most important elements in a good song. They are the heart of the song and form the basis for the rest of the song. They are what the listener will remember after hearing your song.

The hook provides the main idea that the songwriter wants to convey to the listener, while the chorus summarizes the song.  Once you have written the hook and the chorus, you will be able to write verses that build on the ideas and emotions that you wish to convey.

Chorus

The chorus reinforces the main point and the general mood of the song by means of repetition and high energy level. The chorus has the highest energy level of all the parts of the song - it is the loudest, highest-pitched and most emotional part of the song.

Be careful that your chorus is not too vague or too drawn out.

Although the song's title does not have to be included in the chorus, including the title in the chorus can help you to write the chorus. The title can be the basis for the lyrics of the chorus.

Hook

The hook is the phrase in a song that tells the listener what the song is all about.

It is the most memorable part of the song - the part that gets "stuck in your head" and that people will find themselves singing or humming.

If you are listening to a song for the first time, it won't take you very long to recognize the hook.

The hook repeats over and over in the song. It is usually included in the chorus and can be included in the title. It can have lyrics or it can be purely instrumental - for example, the clarinet riff in Superstition by Stevie Wonder, or the guitar riff at the beginning of Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones.

Songwriters will often build their songs around hooks. After writing a great hook, a songwriter will build the chorus around the hook, and the other parts of the song around the chorus.

In rap music, the term hook is often used to mean chorus.