Hook Writing & Voice Leading Tutorial

Core Concepts

Chord Tones

Chord tones = all the notes in a chord

Example: C major chord
- C (root)
- E (third)
- G (fifth)

All three are chord tones. Any sounds stable when C major is playing.

The Three Voices in a Chord

Every chord has three voices (melodic lines):

1. Soprano (top note) - usually the melody/hook
2. Alto/Tenor (middle note) - usually rhythm instruments like strings, pads, guitars
3. Bass (bottom note) - usually bass synth, bass guitar, or kick drum

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Voice Leading

Voice leading = choosing where each note goes when chords change

Goal: minimize how far each note moves.

Example: C major → F major

C major: C, E, G
F major: F, A, C

Good voice leading:
- Bass (C) → stays on C (0 semitones)
- Alto (E) → moves to F (1 semitone up)
- Soprano (G) → moves to A (2 semitones up)

Total movement: 3 semitones. Smooth.

Why it matters: Smooth voice leading makes chord progressions easier to remember and sounds cohesive.

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Building a Hook from Scratch

Method 1: Chord Tone Noodling

Setup: Pick a progression (example: I-IV-V-vi in C major)
- I = C major (C, E, G)
- IV = F major (F, A, C)
- V = G major (G, B, D)
- vi = A minor (A, C, E)

Process:
1. Play the first chord (C major)
2. Noodle ONLY on C, E, or G while it plays
3. When chord changes to F major, switch to F, A, or C
4. Continue through the progression
5. Stay in a 5-6 note range total

The hook emerges naturally because you’re landing on stable notes and the chord changes guide your melody.

Method 2: Start with Melody, Add Chords

1. Hum or play a simple melody (3-5 notes)
2. Figure out which chords contain those notes
3. Voice lead the other voices underneath

Example melody: E - F - G - E

Chord choices:
- E: Use C major (C-E-G) or Am (A-C-E)
- F: Use F major (F-A-C) or Dm (D-F-A)
- G: Use G major (G-B-D) or Em (E-G-B)
- E: Use C major or Am

Pick chords that support the progression you want (like I-IV-V-vi).

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Instrument Arrangement

Standard Pop/EDM Setup

Melody/Hook (Soprano voice):
- Lead synth
- Vocals
- Lead guitar
- Top note of the chord

Harmony (Alto/Tenor voices):
- Strings
- Pad synths
- Piano chords (middle notes)
- Rhythm guitars
- Middle notes of the chord

Bass (Bass voice):
- Bass synth
- Bass guitar
- 808s
- Kick drum reinforcement
- Bottom note of the chord (usually the root)

How They Work Together

Example with F major chord (F-A-C):

• Bass synth: plays F (root, bottom note)
• Strings/pad: plays A and C (middle voices)
• Melody: plays C or F or A (soprano, whatever your hook is)

Each instrument occupies a different voice. The melody sits on top, bass anchors the bottom, harmony fills the middle.

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Practical Workflow

Starting a Track

1. Pick a chord progression (I-IV-V-vi is bulletproof)
2. Program the chords in your DAW with a pad/piano
3. Noodle a melody using only chord tones from each chord
4. Once you have 4-8 bars of melody, that’s your hook
5. Arrange instruments:
   - Bass plays root notes
   - Pad/strings play the middle notes
   - Lead synth plays your hook melody
6. Use voice leading to make sure middle voices move smoothly between chords

Quick Hook Formula

• Repetition: Repeat a 2-4 note phrase 3 times
• Variation: Change it slightly on the 4th time
• Range: Keep it within 5-6 notes total
• Rhythm: Use mostly quarter and eighth notes
• Landing: End phrases on the root or third of the chord

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Common Mistakes

1. Jumping around too much: Keep melody in a small range
2. Ignoring chord tones: Most of your hook should land on chord tones
3. Bad voice leading: If middle voices jump around, it sounds messy
4. Too complex: Simple = memorable. Complexity kills hooks.

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Try This Now

1. Open your DAW
2. Program C-F-G-Am (4 bars, one chord per bar)
3. Set a bass playing C-F-G-A (roots only)
4. Record yourself noodling on C, E, F, G, A only
5. Pick the catchiest 4-bar loop
6. That’s your hook

Add strings playing the middle notes with smooth voice leading, and you’ve got a complete arrangement.