6 Strategies for Making a Catchy Music Track

Find out more about 6 effective strategies for creating catchy music you can’t get out of your head.

How many times have you had a certain song stuck in your head? Why do you tap your foot or nod your head while listening to the beat? Scientists call these types of tunes earworms. While it's not easy to explain what makes a song catchy, some characteristics that make up this type of music, like repetition, hooks, and alliteration.

Listeners like music that's easily remembered but producers rarely think of memorability nowadays. They make music with complicated rhythms and beats or simply put, their music lacks the hook that capture's a listener's attention and hooks them in.

So how do you create a hit song that people will remember? Below, we'll talk about 6 effective strategies for creating catchy music you can't get out of your head.

1. Begin with a good song structure

A good song is a well-structured song. It builds momentum, sustains the interest of the listener, and emphasizes the song's message as clearly as possible. 

Every genre can have a different song structure. In today's popular music, formats like ABABCB (verse / chorus / verse / chorus / bridge / chorus) and AABA (32-bar form) are commonly used and easily remembered by listeners.

While songs don't necessarily need to follow any specific structure, a catchy song should flow smoothly. There must be a seamless transition between the different sections, with some kind of hint being given before jumping from one part to the next. After all, listeners have high expectations and they want to know what they're listening to at any given moment. 

Having a logical structure, smooth flow, and clearly defined sections make a song easy for listeners to remember. These three elements can help you create music that's familiar but stands out from what's already out there.

2. Keep things simple

If you want your music to be catchy and memorable, it has to be simple. People usually don't remember complicated polyrhythms, advanced sound design, or complex arrangements. What they do remember are the simplest ideas and sounds, the catchy hook.

Fundamental skills like songwriting and composition are very important when creating a catchy beat. It doesn't matter how many tracks you have in a project, what's important is the music content in it.

People who'll listen to your music won't care that you've spent 10 hours automating a 5-second part of the track. What they'll care about is the emotional side, what they feel when they listen to it.