Year 10 - Music
Hooks and riffs in pop songs
Introduction to pop music
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Unit Summary
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Lesson Summary
You will learn to compose a riff demonstrating an understanding of successful riff writing.
Key Notes
- A hook is a musical idea designed to 'catch' the listener's ear and is usually the most memorable part of the song.
- A riff is a repeated musical phrase that is typically the defining melodic material of the song.
- A successful riff is short, simple, consonant and repeatable.
- When composing a pop song, it is common to start with a riff.
- When writing a riff, we must ensure that it is short and simple. Less is more!
Vocabulary To Learn
- hook: a musical idea that is designed to 'catch' the ear of the listener
- riff: a short recurring or repeated motif used in pop music
- chord: two or more notes played at the same time; they are usually played as a triad and they form the harmony of the music
- DAW: software used to record, edit and process audio (e.g. GarageBand)
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Hooks and riffs are the same thing.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
A hook is a musical idea designed to 'catch' the listener's ear and is usually the most memorable part of the song. A riff is a repeated musical phrase that is typically the defining melodic material of the song.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'hook'
a musical idea that is designed to 'catch' the ear of the listener.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Hooks and riffs are the same thing. Correction: A riff is the more important feature in how the song fits together and tends to underpin some of the main sections in the music. It is also a more suitable musical starting point for a pop song composition.
More Lessons In This Unit
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