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Posted by: WeePee Jul 24 2009, 11:37 AM

Hey

I run into this problem all the time. I come up a few riffs and start to make a song. Example: Ok the intro, a little solo here and here starts the the main riff...and then it's happening. I don't know how to end it. Seriously I have like 7 unfinished recordings in my computer.

I know maybe I try too much and something what is over my limits. But after few days I lose interest on song and give up.

Is there any tips for this ?


Ville

Posted by: audiopaal Jul 24 2009, 12:11 PM

QUOTE (WeePee @ Jul 24 2009, 12:37 PM)

Posted by: Matt23 Jul 24 2009, 12:19 PM

Try building up one idea at the end into a sort of explosion for an ending. This could be just everything playing one long note, or a frantic shred passage, or drum fill or anything. Just try to build it up.

Posted by: Gus Jul 24 2009, 12:36 PM

I also have lots of unfinished ideas on my PC. I hope they will come to life some day

I think the two main approaches of finishing a song is
1) Slow down, to make the listener understand it's going to end . Here clean and silent works better than loud.
2) Make a lot of noise (drums, bass, everything) and finish it suddenly.

Well, here are some ideas:
1) Probably most straightforward way to finish a song is to play the chorus sequence and then throw the main chord (key) to end.
2) A variation is to add some dissonance or coloration (finish with E9 instead of E).
3) For blues endings there is a GMC lesson : http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/blues-endings-in-a/
4) Lot's of songs finish with fadings. If the solo is finishing your song, I think it is a nice way to do it (for instance the end of sultans of swing).
5) And there are the more fancy ways of ending, with lots of variation on the drums, bass and guitar.
First example that come to my mind is the epic ending, like Metallica's "Call of ktulu", but not every song needs that.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 24 2009, 01:17 PM

You need to listen to your song,
lay down on a couch and listen to it few times,
song always kind a seeks for certain ending,
of course not every person would hear same "seek"
but you should hear it instead of pushing yourself to make one by all means.

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Jul 24 2009, 02:25 PM

I think the ending is not So important, if it's just couple of bars, no problem. The trick is that different songs ask for different endings. Harmony. The easiest harmonic solution is to finish song on I min(if you started in min), that is a safe bet!

Posted by: Trond Vold Jul 26 2009, 11:03 PM

I'm always having problems with finding suitable endings for my songs, but it usually works itself out when i do what Muris suggests.

I take a little break from working on the song and then start listening through what i've got so far.
Will usually come up with better ideas for arrangements and also an ending eventually.

Posted by: WeePee Jul 27 2009, 07:09 PM

Well it's good to know that I'm not the only one with song ending problems

You all had very good tips for this. Thank you, your help was appreciated.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 27 2009, 08:37 PM

QUOTE (WeePee @ Jul 27 2009, 08:09 PM)

Well it's good to know that I'm not the only one with song ending problems

You all had very good tips for this. Thank you, your help was appreciated.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 27 2009, 11:57 PM

You must practice ending your songs. Check out some songs similar to your style, how do they end? Fade out or sharp cut? What are some often used arrangements/concepts for a song? Try to apply some of these concepts to your songs and combine, experiment see what you can come up with. Listen to your songs, for couple of days until you catch the moment of inspiration.

Posted by: thefireball Jul 30 2010, 04:21 PM

Cool thanks guys - everybody! This even helped me! I know what you mean, Muris. I listen my songs through. I'm having trouble with the metal and rock songs I do, but I'm working on techno songs with Linux Multimedia Studio. I say to myself, when I put in the notes, no that's not what my ear was wanting to hear. This makes it sound scary, when I'm trying to make it sound just cool. ...Stuff like that.

Posted by: fkalich Jul 30 2010, 05:48 PM

You need to reprogram your mind to rid yourself of this obsessive character trait, that is so common in society today. It is not limited to music, and looking at it just from that angle is not going to bring any more than partial relief. There is only one way to do it. Every time you find yourself in this state (not just with music, any time), recognize it, and move on. In this example, just finish it, finish it with something, and just move on. It is a matter of dopamine being being transmitted over neural synapses in your mind, leading to obsessive striving to perfection. The only way to stop it, is to STOP it. Gradually those neural connections will dissipate with disuse, and the problem will vanish over time. But anytime you act on the obsession, striving for "perfection" in this sense, just just strengthen the impulse.

I don't think any one here is more of a perfectionist than me. But my striving for perfection is now a healthy one, there is a difference. I used to have the problem you have, it held me back in a number of ways in trying to accomplish things, my first attempt at guitar years ago, golf, advanced math beyond calculus, etc. I got over it, and all that is left are harmless remnants that only I would recognize. But I have gotten rid of the deleterious aspects that hold one back in trying to accomplish something. You can too, but you have to just catch yourself, and move on, just do it, and the problem over time will just go away on it's own. That is how the mind works, it is plastic, and your actions reprogram it with persistence.



G

QUOTE (WeePee @ Jul 24 2009, 05:37 AM)

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Jul 30 2010, 09:10 PM

Try to compose everything in one go... More brakes you make the song changes the mode. Interesting post by fkalich also