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April 2026 Challenge Response – Jonathan Amos, Get Hooked

Home › Forums › Active Melody Member Challenge Response Submissions › April 2026 Challenge Response – Jonathan Amos, Get Hooked

  • This topic has 24 replies, 25 voices, and was last updated 2 days, 11 hours ago by Michael L.
Viewing 24 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • May 8, 2026 at 7:01 pm #414820
      Jonathan Amos
      Participant

        I thought this was an excellent challenge and I enjoyed the discussion on what a hook actually is. It can be just one or two notes (e.g. Smells Like Teen Spirit) or several but I suppose there’s a point when a long hook becomes a short melody. I think there can be many hooks in a song but I assume what we are focusing on here is an opening hook to a song so here’s mine.

        Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan

      • May 8, 2026 at 8:11 pm #414827
        Michael Krailo
        Participant

          Very good, and this will make an excellent intro to a song. Has a moody blues sort of vibe to it.

          Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

        • May 8, 2026 at 11:41 pm #414896
          Pap
          Participant

            Love it…great timing too. Pap

          • May 9, 2026 at 4:01 am #414927
            Mark T
            Participant

              What a great hook you came up with, Jonathan – instantly recognisable, and something that could easily be returned to later in a song. – Mark 👍🎶😎

            • May 9, 2026 at 5:38 am #414936
              JoeD1
              Participant

                That sounded light but mysterious. You played it extremely well keeping in good timing too.

                Joe

                The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
                Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
                --Graeme Edge

              • May 9, 2026 at 6:40 am #414969
                Bill
                Participant

                  Good vibes on this one. Great clean picking. Nice job Jonathan.

                • May 9, 2026 at 10:40 am #415026
                  sciencefiction
                  Participant

                    Awesome hook, Jon! This is definitely a hook: repetitive, sounds great, and stays in your mind. Fantastic!
                    Larry

                  • May 9, 2026 at 12:21 pm #415071
                    Gary W
                    Participant

                      That’s definitely hooky! Well played & well put together.

                      Gary

                    • May 9, 2026 at 12:52 pm #415087
                      AndréM
                      Participant

                        Cool hook Jonathan.
                        Would be a nice opening for a longer song.

                        AndréM

                        AndréM

                      • May 9, 2026 at 1:08 pm #415092
                        Alan L
                        Participant

                          Super catchy, love it! That higher counterpoint that adds in later is a nice touch too.

                        • May 9, 2026 at 2:20 pm #415109
                          Tremelow
                          Participant

                            This is a really good one, Jonathan. And I agree, this cgallenge was great. For a number of reasons.

                          • May 9, 2026 at 2:27 pm #415112
                            Manfred M
                            Participant

                              That really sticks in your head right away and doesn’t let go, Jonathan. Just like a good hook should. Great work and some fine playing.

                              Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
                              The next Meetup will be July

                              There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum
                              I look forward to meet you.
                              Manfred

                            • May 9, 2026 at 2:47 pm #415130
                              Raffaele S
                              Participant

                                I really liked Jonathan, simple but really direct and catchy, and played very well

                              • May 9, 2026 at 2:59 pm #415139
                                sunjamr
                                Participant

                                  Sure sounds like a hook to me. Nicely picked, Jonathan!

                                  Sunjamr Steve

                                • May 9, 2026 at 3:21 pm #415153
                                  Richard G
                                  Participant

                                    What a great Hook Jonathan, it sounded punchy, dynamic and memorable, which was exactly the point.

                                    Richard

                                  • May 9, 2026 at 3:23 pm #415155
                                    charjo
                                    Moderator

                                      Really great, Jonathan. Lovely layering of sound. You’re on a roll, if I recall I loved what you did last month, also.
                                      John

                                    • May 10, 2026 at 4:26 am #415269
                                      Werner
                                      Participant

                                        Great job on this one. The melody flows beautifully and your timing gives it a really solid feel. Thank you,

                                        Werner

                                      • May 10, 2026 at 4:49 am #415281
                                        Carpa
                                        Participant

                                          Played very smoothly and with feeling, beautiful entry 👌

                                        • May 10, 2026 at 6:02 am #415309
                                          Andy N
                                          Participant

                                            Ow that’s a hook and a wonderful intro for a song. Catches your interest straight away with its melody and rhythmic “bounce’. By the end we’re all waiting for the main song to start. What could be better than that 😎👍

                                          • May 10, 2026 at 4:28 pm #415390
                                            John H
                                            Participant

                                              Jon
                                              This is glorious… Very impressive. Simple, melodic and captivating. You blew me away when the counter melody came in.

                                              John

                                            • May 10, 2026 at 8:31 pm #415434
                                              JoLa
                                              Participant

                                                Oh, I enjoyed your acoustic rhythm hook and then the “real hook” started the song, so I guess you created a layered hook, a “hook on hook”, or just a great sounding catchy song! 😉 😉 Seriously, I loved it, very musical, would love to hear the whole song now.

                                                🎸JoLa

                                              • May 10, 2026 at 11:52 pm #415478
                                                Dieter
                                                Participant

                                                  Wow, that grooves and sounds so good.

                                                  Dieter

                                                • May 11, 2026 at 1:43 am #415503
                                                  Laurel C
                                                  Moderator

                                                    This is put together so well, the ‘Hook’ just works to perfection. I kept thinking it sounds familiar, maybe it’s because it has a melody that is memorable.

                                                  • May 11, 2026 at 5:17 am #415534
                                                    snakechisler
                                                    Participant

                                                      Perfect the best one I’ve listened to so far

                                                      I’d say flawless even

                                                    • May 11, 2026 at 12:57 pm #415592
                                                      Michael L
                                                      Participant

                                                        Hi Jonathan, yes, really great idea here, and played so well. This has a vibe that grabs the listener with the rhythm, then the acoustic theme comes in and really sets the stage for a solid tune. Loved it!

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