THE CLIMAX
So how does your story end? Will it be the expected, obvious ending (“New Shoes”), or do you want to try utilizing a plot twist (“Lola”)? This is the place where you want to really ram your message on home, too. Do you want to use your bridge as a way to build the excitement leading up to denouement? Or do you want simply to use the bridge as a chance for the listener to reflect on what you’re provided to digest so far? Will this be a great release for all the tension you’ve built up? It’s often a good idea to make some sort of change, here—some people end the song with a key change or a volume change—something to keep the momentum going.
The main thing is to try to remember at the end of your song is do you want to leave your audience a reason to hear the song again. Did you leave them wanting more? There are lots of fun ways you can accomplish this. Besides the key or volume change, some writers have a little fun with theory and end the song on a “surprise chord” or some other form of unexpected note or chord. It’s also amusing to try a really long or short note as an attention getter for your ending, too. Fadeouts are also commonly used devices, or ending at a gradually slowing tempo. Just remember that if these are the last words your audience hears from you, they should be ones that are memorable. Just remember to ask yourself if this is something that would make you like to hit the replay button.
The story approach is a great way to write songs. If you pick a subject with universal appeal and tell it in a fresh and exciting way, combining this with a killer melody and arrangement, you’ve got a pitchable tune.
Good luck, and keep writing! © 2001 Cindy Lee Haddock
