Writing Music for YouTube Videos: Ending on the Right Note

When you’re creating YouTube content, music isn’t just background noise — it shapes the mood, the pace, and even how viewers remember your video. One of the most overlooked parts is how you end a piece. A strong ending tells your audience that the video is finished, and gives it a sense of closure.

---

Why Endings Matter

Imagine a video that just fades out mid-phrase. It feels unfinished, like a story without a final chapter. Good endings in music, just like in speech, bring everything back home and leave the listener satisfied.

For centuries, composers have used a simple trick: resolve to the tonic (the home note of the key). That “homecoming” sound signals to the ear that the music is complete.

---

A Simple Ending Formula

One effective way to show the end of a piece:

• The top hand (melody) rises slightly and lands on the tonic note (the “home” note of the scale).

• The bottom hand (accompaniment or bass line) moves downward, often stepping to the root note of the chord.

The contrast — melody rising, bass descending — creates a sense of closure. It’s like the musical equivalent of a full stop.

---

Why It Works on YouTube

• Clear signal: Viewers immediately hear that the video is over.

• Professional feel: Even a simple piece sounds more polished when it resolves neatly.

• Flexibility: You can adapt the idea to piano, guitar, or even digital synth lines.

---

Try It Yourself

If you’re working in C major, you might end with:

• Right hand: G → A → B → C (rising to the tonic C).

• Left hand: C → B → A → G → C (falling back to the root C).

Simple, effective, and instantly recognisable as an ending.

---

Beyond the Basics

• Add a sustained final chord and let it ring out.

• Use a slowing tempo (ritardando) in the final bar.

• Double the tonic in octaves for a stronger effect.

These small touches lift your music from “background” to “crafted soundtrack.”

---

✅ Whether you’re scoring science videos, sailing blogs, or teaching tutorials, ending on the tonic with a rising melody and falling bass gives your video the musical closure it deserves.