How to Find the Hook in a Track and What to Look out For

0:00 Tracks that other people may like

Right, so in many of my videos I've explained about how to find good tracks that you like. Now in this video I'm going to talk about tracks that other people may like. We're going to look for the hook. So first of all what is the hook? Well if you're fishing and you're a fish it's not very much happy days because it's frying pan. But on the other hand with music, the hook is part of the track that captures you straight away. It's a little bit like someone grabbing hold of your testicles very quickly and you not moving an inch because it would hurt. So that's the hook. That's something that grabs you straight away and makes you go yes. So take away now all of the thoughts about the hook. Take away now all of the thoughts about you liking or disliking a tune and let's listen together on some of the tracks and let's see if some of these tracks have got the hook that will grab anybody or everybody.

Now I'm using club releases from CDPool from April 2019. I'm going to start off with Progresso, the main mix which does have a hook. So I'll give you an example of something that's definitely got a hook. Listen. And also where is the hook? What is it? What part of the track is the hook?

1:53 It's like the McDonalds sign

That's the hook. Now not all of it.

That is the hook. That's what we are looking for so straight away we found a track that's got a hook. So what you need to be thinking now or thinking along the lines of is

That track would be great to play practically anywhere because it's got something that people can remember. It's like the McDonalds sign. It's something very simple. You know you're driving along really quickly, you're hungry and you see an M. Oh you know there's crap there. Because you know the McDonalds sign. So it's sort of similar in a way because you've now found something in a track that is memorable. Okay, so let's try another one here. Right, this is a track entitled You've Got It Baby. Don't forget all of these tracks if you want any more info on this or any of the other releases click the link in the description to CDPool.com. This one here. You've got a B. Let's see if we've got a hook here.

Remix of a track. But I'm going to be very brutally honest here. Not knocking it. I'm making this track. It's a very good song. But it doesn't really have a sort of a hook. Something to grab you because this is already quite a memorable track anyway. Very good track but this is what we're not on about in this video. We're trying to find the hook in a track. Let's go to another one. A track here entitled Be Happy. Let's try this one for example. Does this have a hook?

4:04 Had a hook

Alright, I'm going to be... It's either going to be yes or no. There's not going to be a middle bit in this video. That's a no. The first one had a hook. You see I've still got that in my memory, in my mind. The others, not so much. The first one, a yes! Okay, let's try Dildo. Oh sorry, Dido gives you up.

Bit of a rattle with that one, I do apologise. Mark Knight Extended. Sort of. But it's still a no because it hasn't got a definite yes, which is what we're after. And this is why a lot of tracks make it and a lot of tracks don't. The ones that don't are the sort of in-the-middle-of-the-mix kind of... I don't remember that. It was part of something that happened an hour ago. On the other hand, the first track I played, it's like...

You can remember it. You can relate to it. It's that kind of... It's imprinted in your brain. Okay, right. So yeah, we're not having that one. Nothing wrong with that. Let's try Frankie Waugh, a track here entitled Get Me High.

A very good track but it does not have what we're looking for in this video which is the hook. This one here never really liked you. Not much really because your smell and your nose is too big. Right.

Now again, it's a nice track. It's very radio-friendly. It's a very happy kind of feel but it does not have that... Yes! That hook. Let's try this one. A track entitled This Feeling. It's the Jared Marston extended mix.

6:56 I'm determined to find another one

Sort of got a hook there.

But it's still not a definite hook.

I'm determined to find another one. But you see... You know, again. If you think about it, all these tunes and only one so far has got a definite got-you which proves why some tracks just make it and stay in your mind and others it's like... Whatever. Okay, so this one here. Jake Chek, Give Me Your Love, the original mix.

Hook at all!

Not really. I mean yeah, there's a nice little break in there but again with the track. What to remember about with the hook is that most of the time it's all the way through. You know, you've got that sort of... It's almost like a... Not even progressive. It just carries on playing all the way through, all the way through until it sticks there. But that hook we heard at the first track started playing. It was a memorable experience from pretty much the first 30 seconds of the track. Let's go here. This is what it's like. This is the track. Let's press play. Try this one here. This is Come Together. That one, by the way, was by Klee Walker. This is what it's like. This one here, Kevin McRae and Elia Gallo. Sorry.

Come Together is the extended mix. I mean maybe one reason why we're not getting many hooks in these tracks is because these are the club releases. Generally, they're extended sort of tracks you would hear in a nightclub. Great tracks for sort of making a mix, you know? So you would very possibly play one track stop, another track stop, another track stop and so on. But what you'll find with the club releases from CDPool, they're great tracks to add to like your hour or 90-minute set or half a day if you're that way inclined. All right. Let's try this one. This is Come Together. Here we go. Listen. You see? Here's the hook. There we go. Listen. That... It's almost like anthem, you know, football match, you know .

You see? We've got a hook. There we go. This is what we're looking for. By all means agree with me or disagree with me. Tell me in a comment. Okay. We'll do one more. This is by Lee Roo, a track entitled Watching You, Gerald Remix.

10:21 Oi, my name's Galliard, you idiot

Oh, sorry, Galliard. Gerald.

Gerald. Oi, Gerald! Oi, my name's Galliard, you idiot. Sorry.

No, this doesn't have a hook. All right, so I hope this has been a help. So again, if you want to find tracks that are going to make people go wow, the memorable experience, for them, should I say, and also for you, then forget about what you like and dislike. Just think about the hook. Find tracks that have got that wow, I can remember that sound. Play those tracks, and you've got a crowd that love you because you're playing stuff that they remember. It's symbiotic in a way, isn't it? All right, I hope that's been a help. Don't forget, check out the link in the description to cdpool.com. Once again, these are The Clowns. Sub releases for April 2019. And also, if you're not doing much BPM time towards the latter part of the year,

Come and check out cdpool, and I'll be on the cdpool stand playing some tunes. Come along, say hello, earn it, buy me a beer. Practice and enjoy. Thank you.

Great track for an end of a set. It's almost an anthem finish kind of tune. Good night, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming. Take care. Goodbye. Practice and enjoy. Thank you.

This transcript was produced automatically from the audio of the video and may contain mistakes.