7 Solid Worship Song Endings
Updated 2022
Estimated time to read: 6 minutes
Every worship team uses them. Every song changeover needs one. The congregation has been trained to expect them. Is your team using the same song ending for nearly every song? Check out these 6 song endings to see which ones you can start using with your team this week.
Sections:
What is a Worship Song Ending?
Song Ending #1: Final Chord or Strum Out
Song Ending #2: The Band Fades Out
Song Ending #3: Tag the Chorus
Song Ending #4: Trash Can on the Last Chord
Song Ending #5: No Ending, Go Straight to the Next Song (Medley)
Song Ending #6: Syncopated Hits
Song Ending #7: Hard Stop
Wrapping it up
What is a Worship Song Ending?
A worship song ending is just that, it’s a way to end a worship song. In a worship service, using the same ending for every song gets boring really quickly. However, we can use different song endings that fit with the tempo, instrumentation, and message of each song. Endings can also set the mood for possible transitions and intros into the next song.
Song Ending #1: Final Chord or Strum Out
Literally everyone plays the last chord/note and that’s that. The end. Next.
Seriously though, there’s not much to this one. You can cut the last chord off whenever it sounds good to you. If the band fades out for as long as possible, you’re already jumping to song ending #2.
Song Ending #2: The Band Fades Out
This option is like the strum out except that instead of playing the last chord (or note for vocalists) and then stopping, everyone in the band purposefully holds out the last chord/note and slowly decreases their volume (if they are repetitively playing the last chord/note for effect).
The fade out ending is different from the strum out ending because instead of everyone holding the last note or chord for as long as they can (or for whatever length seems appropriate), some instruments fade out sooner than others, maybe down to just a pad or a rhythm acoustic guitar. This is the perfect setup for a smooth transition.
If you are aiming for a more delicate worship environment, this can work very well. It can also be used for when the pastor or speaker gets on stage in the middle of a song. There’s the cue, most people fade out, and the keys or acoustic player keeps the feel of the song going while the speaker talks.
Song Ending #3: Tag the Chorus
A tag is simply the repetition of the last line of a chorus (typically) at least once more. For example:
“Lifted up, He defeated the grave,
Raised to life, our God is able,
In His name, we overcome,
For the Lord, our God is able,
For the Lord, our God is able,
For the Lord, our God is able”
Now, each time you sing the chorus of the song “God is Able,” you sing the first 4 lines. But when we come to the end of the song and you end with the chorus, then you can choose to sing the last line an extra time or two (or as many times as feels appropriate, depending on the environment and context).
When you tag a song, you can choose to sing/play the tagged line at the same tempo and dynamic level as the rest of the chorus, or you can play the tagged line at a slower tempo (called a retard, or ritardando, meaning to slow down) or at a lower dynamic (volume), or even both at the same time. It’s really up to you and your team.
Song Ending #4: Trash Can on the Last Chord
The trash can ending is when the whole band plays the last chord loudly in a drawn out and worshipful manner (and yes, I just made up the definition). If you haven’t played this ending, you’ve probably heard it. Everyone plays the last chord/notes loud and drawn out, pretty much like my made up definition says.
The drummer will really have to make this one happen or it just sounds weird - they must hit the cymbals repeatedly as well as other drum heads as if they were playing a trash can solo in an alley. Maybe that’s where the name came from.
Song Ending #5: No Ending, Go Straight to the Next Song (Medley)
You’re probably thinking, “This isn’t a song ending!” Oh but it is!
It’s not a way to end a song “normally,” yes. But instead of hanging onto that last chord, or trash canning the ending, this time you simply go straight into the next song. Let me explain.
Basically the last chord of the song becomes the first chord (or close to it and connected by a brief interlude) to the following song and the music keeps going, similar to if you were playing a medley.
A medley is the joining of two songs or parts of songs so that they flow from one to the next. These are usually in the same key or a closely related key. The two songs typically will have similar tempos so that the transition is very smooth - but the difference in key and tempo can be as crazy as the musicians on your team are talented.
This is a really fun “ending” to connect two high energy songs (or two songs with similar tempo). One minute you’re playing one song, and then suddenly you’re playing a different song without stopping and starting from the top.
Song Ending #6: Syncopated Hits
Syncopated hits are more common in a live setting, but that’s what we do on a worship team - play live! This ending is great at the end of a song that is faster and has a lot of energy. You can keep that energy going to the very end of the song by adding some syncopated hits to the end.
This may not be the most common song ending in a worship setting, but it sure works if you use it right. Let’s say you’re trash canning the last chord and then you coordinate with the whole team to do a few hits. 1. 2. 3. And back to the trash can. Boom, syncopation.
It may be somewhat tricky to pull off but if your team is good with pauses going into choruses and/or bridges, this ending might be a fun one to try out.
Song Ending #7: Hard Stop
The hard stop is the opposite of the strum out or the fade. We’re not even going to be letting this song ring out in harmonious joy. Ok, settle down.
Using the hard stop can be jolting to the audience as the song just ends. But if you’re ready with something planning right after, then you should be good.
This is a great song ending if you’re getting ready to transition to a song in an unrelated key (see the blog post 4 Ways to Transition Smoothly Between Worship Songs).
Wrapping it up
Remember to combine these song endings with the transitions from this post. Together, you can create a ton of variety, energy, and keep the flow of worship going from song to song.
Using any combination of the 6 song endings and 4 transitions, your team can get creative with what is usually an afterthought by many musicians.
Drop a comment and let me know — what’s your go-to worship song ending?