Now you should be pretty close to finishing your composition - you just need to write an introduction and an outro. These are the easy parts, as they're usually based on thematic material you've already written. It's best to keep these short, and get to (or out of) the 'meat' of your composition as quickly as possible. It's also a good idea to keep them simple, so that they are catchy, singable and can 'build' into or 'drop away' from the piece easily.
RIFF (OSTINATO)
Start with a single instrument playing a melodic 'hook', and gradually introduce other parts before launching into the main body of your song.
RHYTHM
Starting with drums or percussion can be a really effective way to introduce your song, and helps to establish the groove when playing live.
CHORD PROGRESSION
A very common intro technique is to simply use the chords from your 'A' section, and repeat them before bringing in your melody. This is a really common technique in pop and rock music.
THE VAMP
A vamp is similar to an ostinato, in that at least one instrument is usually playing a repeated riff, but technically a 'vamp' involves the whole rhythm section sitting on one chord for a while before the melody begins.
CADENZA
A cadenza features a soloist playing unaccompanied for a period of time, often with the rest of the band or orchestra joining in for the final chord. These can either be written (as they were in the Romantic period) or improvised (as in jazz or Baroque).
SUDDEN STOP
Abrupt endings (where the whole band suddenly stop at once) can be really effective, particularly if the stop occurs at the high point of a crescendo, on an unexpected part of the bar or phrase.
UNRESOLVED CADENCE
Finishing a song on a chord other than the tonic can be a really effective and unusual way to end a song, and leaves the audience wanting more. For more on cadences, refer to the music theory pages on this website.
REPEATED CODA
This is a really common ending in jazz, where the last line (usually the last 4 bars) of a song is often repeated three times before finishing on the final chord. A common variation of this is to repeat the 'turnaround' (the sequence of chords that 'set up' the final cadence, before finally landing on the tonic.
RITARDANDO
Another common way to finish a composition is with a ritardando - gradually slowing the piece down as you approach the end
VAMP
Vamps can be particularly effective if you've used the same vamp in your introduction. Compare this version of 'Freedom Jazz Dance' with the 'abrupt ending' version above.
FERMATA
A fermata is a 'pause' in music, where a note or chord is held without worrying about the tempo or metre. The band or orchestra simply hold the last chord until they feel like it's a good time to stop.
NEW MATERIAL
A less common way to end a piece of music, is to introduce entirely different, contrasting material right at the end of the last section
Now that you've written your sections, and written an introduction and an ending, you've nearly finished BUT there's one more important step you need to do before your composition is complete.
First, put it away for a while. If you're writing to a deadline, this might be a matter of simply 'sleeping on it' and leaving your composition til the next day, however the more time you give it the more effective the break will be.
Then, listen to your song with a critical ear, and listen out for anything that doesn't quite sound right. How can you improve your work? If you were inspired by a particular piece of music at the start of this project, listen to it again, and compare it to your own piece. How well does your composition stand up in comparison? Below is a useful set of questions I like to use to analyse my own compositions:
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN COMPOSING MUSIC FOR FILM/
1) Is this song interesting? Does it stay interesting, or do you get bored of it after a while? How can I KEEP it interesting?
2) Who does this song appeal to? Who am I trying to sell to? What sort of music do they like? How does this song compare to those tunes?
3) Does it help to convey the story I want to tell? Could I do this in a more effective way?
4) How does it make you feel? Is this how I want people to feel? How could I make it more emotional? (without getting too cheesy)
5) Does it get stuck in your head? What is the main hook? How can I make it more memorable