Hook library / Music
16 hooks for musicians.
Music on short-form needs a reason to listen past the first second. Name the story, the challenge or the reaction you're chasing, and let the sound do the rest.
Verdict questionIs this the best part of the song? Wait for it.
Curiosity gapI wrote this in ten minutes. Here's the story behind it.
Before / afterVoice memo to finished song.
Insider viewHow this sound was made.
Countdown3 songs I wish I'd written.
POVPOV: you hear this live for the first time.
Number with stakes[Number] takes to get this one note right.
Named thing + stakeIf this gets [number] comments, I'll release it.
Contrarian claimYou don't need expensive gear to sound good.
The mistakeWhy your mixes sound muddy.
Verdict questionOriginal or cover? Guess.
Countdown5 chords that sound good in any order.
Insider viewWhat I listen for in every take.
POVPOV: your song plays in a cafe for the first time.
Curiosity gapThis song almost didn't make the album.
Named thing + stakeUse this sound in your next video.
Make your own, for any topic
Type what your next music video is about and get ten more, one per pattern.
How to use these hooks
- Pick one that's trueOnly use a hook your video actually pays off.
- Fill the bracketsYour real numbers, product and place.
- Show it by 0.5 sWords on screen and a matching picture straight away.
- Test twoTwo versions over a week; keep the one that holds.
Why these work
- Verdict questionAsks the viewer to judge. People stay to see if they were right.
- Curiosity gapOpens a question the video closes. Answer it, or the hook backfires.
- Before / afterShows the change in the first second, then explains how.
- Insider viewSomething only someone inside the job would know.
- CountdownPromises a fixed number of items, so they stay to the last one.
- POVPuts the viewer inside a moment they recognise.
- Number with stakesA specific number in the first line reads as proof, not opinion.
- Named thing + stakeNames something specific and says what it costs the viewer to ignore it.
Hooks for musicians: questions
Should music videos start with talking?
Usually not. Start on the best two seconds of the song, then add context.
How do I get people to use my sound?
Give them a reason: a trend, a prompt or a moment that fits their own videos.
Can I use other artists' songs?
Only with permission or through the platform's licensed library.
Got the hook? Make the whole video.
Avouch writes, cuts and captions the rest. Film on your phone or type an idea; a finished video comes back in minutes.