Endings

[64Guitars]

I just watched this week's SonicTalk podcast and there was an interesting bit at the end which was inspired by a recent Billboard article titled "Why Do Some Songs Fade Out And Others End Cold?"

(starts at about 56:34)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKpNsH9ZLuo

Anyway, I thought it might make an interesting topic for discussion here and people might like to share their thoughts on the subject.

When I was younger and played in various basement bands, we were often guilty of the horrible rockstar endings where everyone just goes nuts on their instrument for far too long, then finally ends with a big power chord and crash cymbal. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about and have done the same thing many times. I hate it now. It just seems like a cop-out. In most cases, the reason we did it was that the original song we were covering ended with a fade and we had no way of doing that properly in a live band situation. Or, occasionally, it might have been because the real ending was too hard for us to play so we just went for the much easier rockstar ending.

I guess, in a way, the fade out is a bit of a cop-out too. I mean, don't we do fade outs mainly because we can't think of a proper ending for the song? Another kind of ending that's a bit of a cop-out is the cliché endings like "shave and a haircut, two bits" and others like that.

So, in addition to discussing the subject here, I thought it might be fun for people to post YouTube videos of songs that have creative, inspiring endings. Since we don't have a way to post just the ending, be sure to indicate in your post what time the ending starts (as I've done with the SonicState video above).

[64Guitars]

Here's an example of a song with a simple ending technique that could be used in other songs. It ends with the same descending, 4-chord progression that's heard several times throughout the song, but gradually slows down the tempo and follows it with an ascending arpeggio over several octaves. Very nice.

I've always loved this song. It's from Leon Russell's 1972 album "Carney". I couldn't find a YouTube video of the studio version, so I'm posting the Grooveshark player instead. Unfortunately, the player doesn't allow you to skip ahead, so you might want to go to the Grooveshark page in the link below, where you'll find a more elaborate player that will let you skip ahead (around 2:22 should do).

http://grooveshark.com/s/My+Cricket/51BKWs?src=5

[grooveshark]38113634[/grooveshark]

[64Guitars]

Another technique is the false ending, where the song seems to end normally (with a fade or whatever), but then makes a surprise comeback. Here are a couple of examples:

(from about 2:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7xLz15Nvnk

(from about 3:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTpowubQ6B4


I can't say I'm a big fan of the false ending but it is creative and unusual.

[64Guitars]

I've been listening to quite a few songs to try to find different types of endings. One technique that's fairly common is a tempo change at the end. Usually, it's just slowing down the last measure or so and letting the final chord ring out, or playing arpeggios over it (as in "My Cricket" above). But this song is a bit different in that it slows down at the end but then picks up the tempo again for the final four bars.

(from about 1:54)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aae_RHRptRg

[Farrell Jackson]

I agree 64, endings do pose problems in recordings and live band situations. I've been in bands that did the rock start endings also and ones that mimicked a fade out. The fade outs are hard to do consistently live. I always tried to find a unique way to let the audience ( live or listening to a recording) know that the end is coming. There's nothing worse than ending a song abruptly when a couple is in some dance move and they are caught off guard and continue past the songs end, lol. I like to sort of set them up for it...such as repeating the chorus or partial chorus which gives a hint that the song is nearing the end.

I try to never end a recording with a fade out unless the fade is for affect reasons. For example, I began my song  "Bodie Town" with the drums and then ended with a long fade out on the drums. The affect I was going for was the start and end of a journey of days gone by....kind of like the cowboy riding off into the sunset.
https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=15419

Personally I don't think I've ever ended a song that was unique or real creative.....maybe "It Was A Trip" with an acoustic riff an then finishing with a harmonica, but I'm sure that's been done before.
https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=12587

I also ended "Trippin' Down a Different Road" with a single vocal line and finger snaps but I've heard that one also ) https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=14918

I just checked the 75 songs I have posted here and of those only 6 were fade outs. Most because I was lazy or couldn't think of any other way to end them, lol. I had forgotten about the end of "The Train To Normal" which I did get a bit creative and gradually sped the songs tempo as it faded, to give the impression of a train chugging off into the distance as it gained speed. https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=10970

Good topic of discussion!

Farrell

[Geir]

Very interesting topic indeed.

And it is giving me headaces sometimes trying to figure out how to end a song.

I though I had a nice variation of the fade-out on this cover tho:

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=12449.0

[Greeny]

Ah, here's an interesting topic of discussion! I tend to avoid fade outs, because I know it's just me being lazy if I cop out of doing something more interesting or unique. Sometimes a fade out IS the right way to go though. 'Hey Jude' and Donovan's 'Atlantis' for example... songs like that NEED a faded ending.

Personally, I like to try anything and everything and surprise myself. All of my best endings have been mostly accidents / flukes. And I kind of enjoy not preparing or rehearsing anything... just making it up when I get there. Always ensures a spontaneous surprise or two!

[Greeny]

3:50... my favourite ending ever. Absolute class.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUy-Vbrt9o4

[cuthbert]

I like the mirror-ending (not sure that's an official songwriting term   ) which ends as it began. It works better if it's a strong riff. The Kinks did this well in Dedicated Follower of Fashion:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-JKWDC6fDs

Well not exactly mirrored, but you get the idea...

The Beatles did something similar in Eight Days A Week:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtuybFrq7Rw

AND with fade-out (and fade-in)!   

[cuthbert]

And speaking of The Beatles   , there's always the classic "Beatle ending", also known as ending on a sixth chord:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0YifXhm-Zc

From 2:16: cliche perhaps, but as cliches go, one of the best....