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There are so many ways to end a song, here are 10 of them. Use them as a starting point to develop your own endings.
#11 chords are the bread and butter of jazz endings. I usually combine them with a 6 and/or a 9 in my end voicings because the 6 is a more stable tone than a major 7.
Here are 2 voicings for a C6/9/#11 chord:
Here's an example for songs that end on a major II V I. The G7 is substituted by the Db9#11 (tritone substitution).
You can also use the major #11 chord in minor keys.
A major 7 with a #9 has a nice tension and is an interesting chord to end on. This is not a m/maj7 chord, the b3 acts like a tension (#9).
Here's an example:
This is a nice one, instead of going to the I to end the song, first go to the bVImaj7, then to the bIImaj7 and then conclude with the I. Play this progression ad lib (free time, without a fixed tempo).
An example in C major, instead of this chord progression:
|Dm7 G7 |Cmaj7 |
We play this one:
|Dm7 G13 |Abmaj9 |Dbmaj7 |Cmaj7(#11) |
Here's the guitar chord chart for this progression:
Note that the roots of the added chords are the tritone substitutes of the II V (Ab is the sub of D, Db the sub of G).
This is a variation of the previous one, instead of the bVI, we play a bVII:
|Dm7 G13 |Bbmaj9 |Dbmaj7 |C6/9/#11 |
Here's the guitar chord chart for this progression, with an ascending voice leading in the melody note:
You can combine the 2 previous into this one:
|Bbmaj9 Ebmaj7 |Abmaj9 Dbmaj7 |C6/9/#11 |
Here are the guitar tabs for a possible voice leading:
A very fresh way to end a song, play a bIIm7 after the Imaj.
Example in C major:
|Dm7 G7 |Cmaj7 |Dbm7 |
Another classic ending: instead of going to the I, you play this progression, starting on #IVm7b5:
|IIm7 V7 |#IVm7b5 IVmaj7 |III7#9 bIII9#11 |II7#9 bII9#11 |I6/9/#11 |
In C major:
|Dm7 G7 |F#m7b5 Fmaj7 |E7#9 Eb9#11 |D7#9 Db9#11 |C6/9/#11 |
Here's the guitar chord chart for this example:
m/maj9 chords in minor keys are the equivalent of #11 chords in major keys. Here are 2 basic voicings:
Minor 6 chords also work good to end songs in minor keys:
Or combined with a major 7:
Another way to end a song is to repeat a part of the melody. Let's take the last 4 bars of There Will Never Be Another You as an example:
You can repeat the melody and chords of bars 1 and 2, before moving to the end:
Please don't play this the way I wrote it, it's just a theoretical example. Add some flavor to it by playing a variation, rhythmic or melodic. Let your ears decide what part of the melody should be repeated.
Do you know more interesting ways to end a song, let us know at the forum...