the first few seconds

[emanresu]

Hey!

I dunno what it is. Maybe you have experienced it.

The thing in question is - when the first few seconds of an unknown thing will attract your attention, you'll find yourself listening through the whole piece.

Is it just me? Last time it happened was this:

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

That’s known as the “hook” in the recording industry. When you submit a demo, it has to set the hook in the first few seconds if you’re to stand a chance of being signed. Producers, A&R people etc get so many submissions that they’ll only listen to the first few seconds of each one. If there’s nothing exciting, the audition is over.

[Peter C]

Absolutely; happens all the time. Love this Aaron Parks piece, and his collab. with Gilad Hekselman.

"Hooks" are more a pop music thing, though obviously have their place.

[emanresu]

Gosh darn. Everything I encounter is just ancient history.

[emanresu]

But then again, the piece I had up there. It is nothing special. Why does it sound special?

[garybaldy]

I don't know why this happens but this did it for me.

[Peter C]

Why does it sound special?

Because it does.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

"Hooks" are more a pop music thing

Anything can have a hook, and it’s often undefinable. As Justice Potter Stewart famously said about pornography, you know it when you encounter it. In music, it may be a particular sonic quality, a catchy lyric line, an infectious rhythm, a cool lick etc. But whatever it is, it makes you want more.

For clothing, it could be the way a fabric feels when you first touch it or put it on. It may be the color, the texture, the cut, or a tiny detail like the shape of a lapel or the stitching around the buttonholes. For cars, it could be the exhaust note, the grille, or the angle at which the body sits above the ground. The sight or smell of some food makes you want to eat it. And our attraction to potential mates is often sparked by something as simple as the sound of his or her voice, the way he or she smiles, or the first words spoken to you.

It’s often hard to define. But as Gershwin said, s’wonderful!

[Doctor Jeff]

Speaking of Gershwin, how about Rhapsody for Blue?

One of the most effective and memorable openings of all time.

[ragman1]

I think certain sounds appeal to us for various reasons. If your ear catches that then you're going to keep listening.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Speaking of Gershwin, how about Rhapsody for Blue?

One of the most effective and memorable openings of all time.

Yep! Rhapsody in Blue grabs you at the opening note. If it arrived in a producer’s hands as a demo on a cassette tape, there’d be a contract in the mail within minutes.

While Ragman’s right that individual tastes vary, there’s enough consistency to make some compositions multimillion sellers and perpetual hits. The ability to create such compelling work is what makes artists successful. The ability to recognize it is what sets the best producers apart and makes them successful.

[ragman1]

While Ragman’s right that individual tastes vary

I didn't quite say that. I said that certain sounds, a certain combination of instruments, or a certain way of singing, hits the spot with us and we latch on to that and want to keep listening.

there’s enough consistency to make some compositions multimillion sellers and perpetual hits.

Absolutely, the same sound can be the favorite of a certain section of people which produces the folkies, the jazzers, the opera buffs, and all that. Something in that style attracts them more than others. Which is not to say it's exclusive, we can favour several different styles all at once.

[Christian Miller]

I don't know why this happens but this did it for me.

Crikey, I've sung this, years ago, in a different life. Good piece.

[RJVB]

I think we either want something that gets down to business at once but that some amount and form of suspense works a lot better. Nothing new, certainly not "more of a pop thing":

(a passacaille starting like that always hooks me)

The start of "sing sing sing" is probably a perfect example of getting down to business at once, but what about this?

(Can we give a special mention to the intro of Murray Head's "One night in Bangkok"? )

[RJVB]

I don't know why this happens but this did it for me.

Yeah, that works. This still works a lot better for me:

[emanresu]

I think it happens more often than not that when the intro hooks instantly, the rest of the piece is also a worthy one.
My theory is that the intro receives special attention and is often refined later if the piece itself is particularly compelling.

[garybaldy]

Crikey, I've sung this, years ago, in a different life. Good piece.

That must have been a wonderful experience!!

[garybaldy]

Yeah, that works. This still works a lot better for me:

I think it's the close harmony stuff for me. Could stem from my being in a brass ensemble (me on trombone) in my teens when our teacher wrote pieces for us in that vein. The french horns were doing something 'magical'. I didn't realise what it was at the time. Unfortunately not always possible on the guitar.

[garybaldy]

Something a bit different.

[Peter C]

You may disagree with this Wikipedia definition: A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock, R&B, hip hop, dance, and pop.

The difference between this term and motif (for example) doubtless resides in the composer's intentions.