Ending Ideas

Two important parts of a song that need careful thought are the beginning (which I
will deal with in a latter lesson) and the ending. Just like reading a good book or
watching a great movie, a song needs to have an interesting beginning and ending to
complete it. Apart from the hook line, the ending can be one of the most memorised
parts of a song so it is very important to learn something about this facet of a tune.

Many players find coming up with interesting ending ideas very difficult and if not
executed in a professional manner can ruin a great performance. For example, a song
needs to sound like it is coming to a completion and then sound finished. Here is an
exercise for you – when listening to any songs in the next few days pay attention to
how the artists end the tune and answer these questions. Can you hear the song
coming to an end in the final few bars? Does the song sound completed?

Some songs warn you in advance they are coming to an end by retarding, fading out,
repeating the last four bars, playing a plagal or perfect cadence, or as in most of our
examples here by playing an ending lick which prepares the closing chord. Many
endings you hear could even use two or more of these ideas.

Here are five great ending ideas to get you started.

Ex 1 is typical of a blues/rock type ending. It is in the key of E major and uses the
blues scale to prepare the ending which is the chord of E9 without the root. If you are
new to playing these types of chords then pay attention to the finger numbers beside
the notes.

Ex 2 reminds me of some Beatles endings, but many pop tunes also end like this. The
C69 chord, also shown here with no root, is a common ending chord so make sure you
learn to hear it.

In Ex 3 the blues scale is used again to prepare for the final E7#9 chord and this type
of ending can be heard a lot, especially among bands with horns in the line-up. The
E7#9 chord is also called the “Hendrix chord” among guitar players because Jimi
Hendrix tended to use it a lot.
Ex 4 is a rockabilly type ending in the key of E major. It uses the blues scale again to
prepare the E9 chord to finish. Notice the E9 chord shown here is different to the one
in Ex 1 and has an open 6th and 1st string which gives it a special sound that is very
popular among professional players.

Ex 5 is a country rock that uses a major pentatonic lick stacked in fourths and then
prepares for the ending with a perfect cadence (or V-1, G to C). Watch the bend with
the second finger in the final C major chord; you will need to use the first finger
behind the second while making sure to bend in tune.

The words “poco ritard” under the last two triads indicate for you to gradually slow
the last few beats. This is also the most difficult of all the ending licks and one that
you will also hear a lot.

There are millions of ways you can end songs and it is recommended that you study
the endings of the songs you like, learn them, and then write them down. Building a
repertoire of good quality ending licks and ideas is crucial if you want to be a
performer or player of the highest calibre. Of course many endings you hear will be
repeated by your favourite performers, but it is your duty to try to change them
slightly so they become yours.

Happy Practising
Kevin.
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This lesson was published in the New Zealand Musician Magazine Feb/March 2006
issue.

© 2006 Kevin Downing

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Kevin Downing is a professional guitarist, teacher, and author. www.guitar.co.nz
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