Getting to the Finish Line
As a songwriter, the ending is the least of your worries. Odds are that the ending you choose for your song will be changed or replaced by the artist or producer if the song gets cut. That said, you still have to figure out how to end your song on a demo and during live performance. Otherwise, you'll be stuck for all eternity playing a song that never ends.
There are countless ways to end a song. Ultimately, you have to decide which one works best for each of your songs. Try several endings and see if one fits the song better than the others. Here are some examples of the different kinds of endings used in contemporary songs. Feel free to experiment with these, change them, combine them, and come up with your own unique ways of wrapping things up.
Custom tag: Musical section or signature lick written to be an ending.
Intro tag: A reprise of the intro used for ending the song.
Riff tag: An ending that incorporates a signature lick or riff from the song.
Motive reprise: A final, instrumental repetition of the main musical theme.
Chorus/verse reprise: Like a motive reprise, but with verse or chorus melody.
Hook fade: Several repetitions of the hook over a fade out.
Double chorus fade: A double chorus that fades out in the second half.
Hook dead stop: A final repetition of the hook, ending in a sudden stop.
Any of the endings that draw from another part of the song may require a bit of tailoring. Tweak and adjust them as necessary. A few tricks to try include slowing down at the very end, modulating the key of a final chorus, or adding a brief rest or bit of silence before a final chord.
Though recorded versions of a song often fade out, you'll need a definite ending for live performance. A tentative ending that trails off uncertainly can undermine your song and make an audience or publisher doubt a song they just heard and liked. A confident ending says that you believe in your song.
