Writing The Hook (An Intuitive Approach) | The Hit Song Architect S1E4 

I wish there was a next episode

Thanks for being vulnerable.

I don't know about yall, but i think this is always the best process in song writing. Babbling, improvisation; what ever comes to your head, but trying to make the words all make some kind of sense together.

finally someone who's not afraid to show how improvising really works and that it's fine to sing absolute nonsense before you come up with anything!! much love to you!

That was awesome. Not all too different from what my sketching sounds like, but this switched it from “I have no idea what I’m doing” to “none of us have any idea what we’re doing. It’s ok.” Thanks a ton for this.

I'm impressed you would share this part of the writing process, the basic building of a song are very intimate moment I wouldn't share with anyone. Thank you very much !

When We Surrender has such a Chris Cornell vibe. Love it.

I’ve watched about 50 videos on songwriting and your the first to show their actual process. It’s a PROCESS. I think more of us songwriters should post this stuff. Thank you!

I don't know if you'll see this comment, but a few days ago I sat here with tears in my eyes because you had the courage to show this process. You see, I've done similar things, and even really weird things that made me think I was truly a little crazy. That "normal" songwriters, who weren't broken like me, wrote songs in a completely normal fashion. From the way ephemeral songs/melodies will just arrive in my mind and will vanish if I don't immediately jump up (even in the middle of the night) and get it down before it fades, to the really weird ways I can trigger my mind to take off with new melodies/songs using vinyl and cassettes, I've always just thought I was weird, broken, but broken in a way that works for creating music. It's hard to explain. But this video started me down a road where I spent a few days researching composers and songwriters and what their writing process looked like and I have been blown away and relieved to find out the things I do, the things that I thought meant something was wrong with me, are actually quite common among composers and songwriters! It turns out that that one day when the wife and I were driving along and a song arrived in my head and I abruptly stopped, got out, and walked around humming the melody into my phone wasn't so weird after all! But my wife sure was confused, lol. So, I learned that us songwriters are all a "weird" bunch, haha. Thanks again, dude. This video made a huge impact on my life.

I vote for "like a manatee"

I know this is how a lot of my friends and some of my favorite songwriters write songs but it feels nice to actually SEE someone else just singing gibberish into a microphone to write songs

It was obscene, Officer; I mean, he just bared his heart and exposed his soul!

Pro tip: after you finish it keep going like how he kinda did saying gibberish and it helps so much she writing later

"Returned" feels like it has a lot of potential.

"Is it something you lost in me" that shit gave me chills

I woke up today with “We are the returned” stuck in my head, I had to come back and listen to it again 👍🏾

I’ve come back to this video 4 times. Someone else said “write 3 sets of lyrics, and the best melodies within them should be put together. The best melody is the chorus, the second best is the hook and the third is the verses.” This all has helped me so much! Thanks for doing these videos!

I LOVE this reminds me very much of watching SIA hum and mumble. This is that pure gold kind of clip that shows what a skeleton of a song looks like

"Lost in me" This video was incredible, btw. I'd love to see a lot more like this of the actual process. It's so helpful to see people going through the process. Songwriting is damn hard and it's easy to forget that when all you see are edited videos and perfected endings. I end up thinking that I just suck as a songwriter when I struggle all the time. It's just part of songwriting and I need to keep remembering that. videos like this are a good reminder. It's one thing to read about tips and what not, it's another to see those tips being used in real life. Thank you so much

"WHEN WE SURRENDER" IS A HIT PERIOD

You basically wrote the outline for AN ENTIRE ALBUM in 5 minutes.

The great alone. Sounds like Maroon 5 and Coldplay had a baby

4:20 I turned “Lost In Me” into some sad song lol *Hook* Is it something you lost in me? Something you found in you? Something you lost in me? Something you couldn’t find yourself? Something you lost in you? Something you couldn’t ever change? *Verse 1* It was the check that got us down I passed them all around Like we’re going south of town, rolling all night You got me stressed about your frowns Leaving home without a sound Was your king, I’ve lost my crown I won’t cry, I *Pre-Hook* beeeeeeeeeg, what’s gone wrong these days? I’m wreeeeecked, I just can’t separate Is this a gaaaaame, have I just been played? You’ve gone awaaaaaaay, am I to blame? *Hook* Is it something you lost in me? Something you found in you? Something you lost in me? Something you couldn’t find yourself? Something you lost in you? Something you couldn’t ever change?

I cannot thank you enough for this type of video. The behind the scenes, often gross, process of making a song is never talked about and I'm so thankful you have the balls to show us a method of doing it. Thank you

And THIS video is why you have hundreds of thousands of followers. Thank you for being so raw, vulnerable, and jumping right into showing us examples instead of theorizing about it. Love this. Thank you.

I didnt know you could sing like that, props to that falsetto 👊

I find it helpful to record your music, and rather than writing a vocal pattern while you're playing, come up with it while listening to the recording. You're taking up more "space" in your brain when trying to do both at the same time. Writing the vocal pattern separately, before trying to play it at the same time as your guitar or whatever, seems to help me focus, and pay greater attention to detail in vocal patterns.

I probably would've spent 3 or 4 days trying to learn what I've learned in this video. You're a lifesaver, dude. [edit]: Also, you got a hell of a voice dude. Amazing songs as well, but my favorite is "When We Surrender". The music worked so well with the lyrics, but that's just my opinion.

i love and hate how all your rapid prototyping sounds better than anything Ive attempted in life

"Lost In Me". I hear some Cornell in your vocals btw!

I really appreciate you having the guts to put something like this online. I always feel so embarrassed when going through this process, so it's good to see someone else doing the exact same thing. I also like your voice :)

Wow this is a very brave video to upload. I know for a fact this is how so many song writers work but they all just pretend they had the finished entirety of the song composed in their head before they started working on it for real. You just have to sound like an idiot for a while until eventually something decent will emerge.

As a metal dude who constantly struggles to fit lyrics awkwardly over instrumentals, this video may have changed my life

Music first of course: 1. Chords 2. Melody 3. Words on melody

Thought I was the only one who says "That's too major" 😀

He actually got rhythm and sound good I’m shocked Keep it up bruh💯

What an interesting process. It is hard to let people in, I agree. In all art, it is so easy to feel like a fraud, until you realize that the creative impulse is incredibly human. We do not need to be perfect or great, just create something interesting or at the least, unique. Well done.

When We Surrender gets my vote

When we surrender. Sounds like Chris Cornell. Beautiful

Absolutely fantastic. Best songwriting info I've consumed so far. That's in any format. This right here is how people go from not being able to create to absolutely creating a piece of expression from nothing. Dont even need your knowledge of the piano. Get an app like "Circle of Fifths" for $3.99 and push buttons that play chords and boom. Done.

When u sing low notes u sound like johnny cash and when u sing high notes u sound like Adam lavin and I mean that in the best way possible

My vote is for a song named That is One Squeaky Pedal.

I appreciate your transparency with you process. I try to do the same type of thing when I write and it's good to see someone else be creative in such a raw way! Thank for this!

'Outliers' by far was my favorite. A natural melodic sound and, to match it, you found a fresh, major progression quickly. The "searching for the sun" line was a great lyric as well. 'Returned' has potential but it looked like their was a struggle to establish a new chord progression that differed from the others. The falsetto melodic motif was what stole the show. Minus the lower range expedition there and some of the vocal runs, I thought the constant quarter beat rhythm might be a good direction to go. Other than those two all the others sounded the same to my ears. But these are my ears of course :)

The Great Alone - it's got that epic stadium rock potential. Imagine 12,000 in a venue all singing together about being alone!

when we surrender

No one else in my many years of songwriting, has ever been able to blueprint songwriting. This is brilliant and so appreciated as I attempt to overcome writers block for a third album. Again, brilliant. Thank you!!

You have such a unique voice and accent, I really like hearing you write!

"I was feeling down like a manatee; it felt like the great alone." Those lyrics should be in any iteration of these songs.

Warts and all. Great vid. Love watching others struggle through only to find a gem. Thanks

Ohh, so you're as goofy as I sound when I try to write songs. That's fantastic. Thank you! I needed to see this.

bro i just found your youtube and fell in love with your voice. I am grateful to live in a world where the artist is vulnerable. Thanks man fr. from one singer to the next. this is amazing 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

"Lost in me". This is brilliant! So glad I found your channel.

Even if we aren’t into the same genre, I like how you showed your creation process 💯 Love the videos 🔥

Wow - You're so brave. I'm scared of showing my finished work let alone this part of the process where you're getting the 99 brainfarts out looking for that one that works. Wish I was so brave. Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable part of you.

I loved the high note in "When We Surrendered" and also those random words near the end 😁😎

damn, you, sir, have a majestic voice. I guess, "returned"

yeah, you really got into the groove on "When we surrender"

Putting it bluntly.... you are the MAN for sharing this ! This is pure creative reality.

i like how the more energy you put into it just fucking around the more influences you heard thus more ideas to capitalize on. pretty much dont overthink it and jam out.

When we surrender! such a soulful vibe...Btw, seems like everyone hear some Chris Cornell in your voice =)

I'd give a vote for Like a Manatee :D but I pick Outliers, I love the melody progression on it

There is something you lost in me, something you lost in you... Your melody will be around my head today.

You're so amazing at songwriting! Definitely a dream songwriting buddy! Keep writing!

When We Surrender

8:50 I really like your lower notes. It reminds me of Pearl Jam. I think the first verse of your song should be down in this register, and then the next verse should be an octave higher.

The authenticity of this process made me subscribe so quick. Thank you bro, this is what we need...

we are the returned. Great show of process - thank you!

You are amazing. Thank you! Btw, definitely Outliers!!!!

Returned!

This is the way I come up with all of my ideas. As the rhythm of the melody starts to take shape, the babbling or skat phrases hold the space for lyrics to eventually fall in. Thank you for sharing this because I wondered if other people used this process.

This is how I do it: I play some chords on the guitar with a few words in mind . I try to find a melody to these words then I adlib to some chords. I change Chords and the tempo of my fiddling. When I find there is something good in there I go to my microphone and very crudely record those. I still adlib and change tempo and beats. I render those files and upload them to the cloud . I will listen to those files later, probably while driving and pick out the pieces I like. Then I go back to the guitar and develop those pieces further, back to the mike and so on... Sometimes the first Idea will come thru (lyrics and/or melody) sometimes it will all get very different...but thats the fun of it. very good video, this is what songwriting is about. Catching those good ideas

Outliers. Optimistic without being schmaltzy, has lots of potential I feel :)

Dang, it really is uncomfortable seeing someone struggling creating a song, thank you for removing this anxiety and insecurity for creating such masterpieces

Is that seriously how songs are made?? Writers' minds are seriously amazing. That was pretty cool to watch.

Thank you for showing us the songwriting process and not just TALKING about it like everyone else!

When We Surrender was so good! I can totally see it as the hook to a G-Easy song or something.

"Outliers"

how awesome you were confident and brave enough to show 'warts and all' .. i am also a songwriter, and have only a select few co-writers i could feel comfortable enough with being so naked

So personable and relatable! Thanks for your vulnerability! The great alone is my favorite

Returned

Mix the word “Headliners” in the intro of outliers , I think it would add great emotion. (Listen to the song real quick and try it, don’t overthink it) 🙏🏻 Great vid ‼️ “The Returned chord progression goes high to low. I think it should go from low to high to build forward moving tension and then on the slower part flip it back around like how you have it originally 🎼 “Just my personal taste, much love man! 🤙🏻

This is a genuine channel to ‘actually’ learn something important

I really like how you logically break down song writing in all of your vids. I finally found a good one:) keep this up!!

Hard to pick Song Lost in me & We surrender would song great merged together, Great alone has potential, Returned sounds interesting! You have a Theory Of a Deadman type of vocal style! Like a lot!

I can't pick. . . partial because my relationship with music is wierd as well as Ive never heard you sing before.... I want to hear you sing more It was awesome to just get a piece of something more origanol rather than analytical (which i appreciate)

I've been waiting for a term to describe my process of improving but 'rapid prototyping' just about sums it up. Thank you

Wow, I just saw my exact process recreated - thought I was the only one. I like to look at old movie titles as well - that's how Springsteen got a lot of his hooks. Thanks for letting us in the raw process.

We are the return!

I usually get a theme for the song. I write out a bunch of things I know about the subject. Then I get my guitar and figure out a cool chord progression. Then I write a melody and fit lyrics into the rhythm I wrote. -me in the future when I'm actually good a song writing lol

I keep coming to this vid! please consider continuing this series it so insightful:)

Lost in Me. Those lyrics actually gave me pause and blink at what you were saying. In a good way. Amazing voice my dude.

When we surrender!

Returned :)

I love it! I record myself singing gibberish over chord progressions and write lyrics to the syllable sounds after. So dope to show us your process man it's personal but it's the best part about being a musician

"Lost in Me" sounded really sweet! Brilliant job.

1) *Outliers* - I really like the vocal melody, can imagine the rest of the song & so many uses for it already.. 💭 2) *Returned* especially when u sing it lower.. Can imagine deep rap verses with that..! 🔥 3) *The Great Alone* is the most ready to become a song imo.. Excellent progression, but I think u should change those words, whilst keeping the vocal melody.. 🙈 lol it'd have actually been my fav, with different words.. I really like the _When We Surrender_ title though.. Cool video..! Nice seeing ur process.. - @Acharich

I LOVE YOU

Hello! Thank you so much for the video. I gained a lot of insight from it. I mainly write rap songs but the process you showed still makes sense. The "failing fast when testing out hook" part was extremely helpful, because I tend to get stuck trying to make my first idea work but now I see it's better to move on. And to look around you for words and phrases to draw inspiration from is something that I had been doing already almost subconsciously! Now I can pay more attention and go looking for inspiration instead of feeling like it should magically come.

Returned! Rock and roll!