What is "The Hook?"

[COBRARI]

I did a search and couldn't find a definitive explanation on the term.
What is a perfect example of "The hook?"

Would the bass playing on "We Gotta Get Out of this Place"
be considered a hook?

[ugly_bassplayer]

IMO

"The Hook" was Jamerson's right index finger.
He played with only one finger in his right hand technique, resting his other fingers on the bell & the thumb not fixed muting unplayed strings.

[COBRARI]

I agree and I think (It's been a while) in the book "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" that he was just a one finger player on a lot of those monster hits.

[Mojo-Man]

I agree with the Jamerson reference.

The Hook, is also what makes the song, or groove special.

The song "Sunshine Of Your Love" Cream.

The bass line is the hook. (DA DA DA DA- DA DA DA- DA-DA DA )

[jschwalls]

the hook is the familiar phrase or groove that defines the song..

Imagine if you've never heard the song before and as soon as you do it seems strangely familiar... usually it is some melody that makes you say.." that's what makes the song! "

[blockinlay]

A rhythm change

[J-Razz]

Originally Posted by COBRARI

I did a search and couldn't find a definitive explanation on the term.
What is a perfect example of "The hook?"

Would the bass playing on "We Gotta Get Out of this Place"
be considered a hook?

I'd consider that a "hooky" bass line, but musical hooks in general are usually found in the chorus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_%28music%29

[KeithBMI]

The hook is the part of the song that you hum while you're on the toilet.

[braydensharrar]

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

The hook is the part of the song that you hum while you're on the toilet.

I couldn't have said it better myself

I believe this was the type "hook" the OP was referring to.

Leave it up to bass players to immediately jump to Jamerson.

There's only one other type of Hook I know of besides these two, but I'll leave Dustin Hoffman out of this.

~B

[Richland123]

A memorable riff, musical phrase, chorus, lyric, vocal line, can all be the "hook" of a song. Most catchy songs have one hook but there are also some that have two.

A few songs that have an instantly recognizable and catchy opening riff or hook as well as a catchy chorus or hook are.

Another One Bites The Dust
Down On The Corner
Play That Funky Music
My Sharona

[ausf]

It's the thing you find hanging off the car door handle after narrowly escaping from the homicidal one armed maniac.

I thought that was common knowledge.

[somegeezer]

In a pop song it would most likely be the riff played in the chorus. But not always is this the case. Also it's a fingerstyle way of playing with only 1 finger.

[SurferJoe46]

One of THE MOST memorable 'hooks' is the bass thump in "My Girl".

It stands alone as one of the most recognized hooks in music.

G--C-C--G--C-C--G--C-C--

[Droot]

^^^
"the hook" by "The Hook"
DRoot

[JTE]

The hook is the thing (whatever- lyrics, instrumental lick, background vocals, anything) that grabs the listener and makes them remember the recording. Could be the riff to "Sunshine of Your Love" or "Day Tripper", the "beep beep um beep beep yeah!" on "Baby, You Can Drive My Car", the bass solo on "You Can Call Me Al", the reverse-gated snare drum entrance on Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight", etc.

It's whatever "hooks" the listener into the song.

John

[blackbass54]

"The Hook " is the part of the song that grabs your attention. You may move your head or tap your hands or feet to the music or sing that portion of the song which usually is the chorus. It's the part of the song that starts to pick up and groove.

[dpbass613]

yeah all a hook is, is a memorable melody of the song, any instrument or vox can create one.

[bassteban]