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My opinion might not be shared by everyone, but maybe a bunch do. So, what do the rest of you think about fade-outs in a live performance?


I have mixed opinions. One one hand I have never EVER heard a live band fade out a song in a performance. I think fades were probably introduced when radio dominated the industry, and DJs probably preferred songs that gave them an easy lead-in to their schtick. Which isn't necessary in a show.

However, what starts out for for one reason takes on a life of its own after years of repetition. People who have heard a song fade out for years on their LP or CD may expect to hear it fade out when you perform it too.

Personally, I find it awkward to sing more quietly as the song tapers off... even when I can use midi to fade out my playing on the fly, I think it sounds more dynamic and interesting to create other types of endings.

But in the final analysis... variety is the spice of life. A fade is one of many different ways to end a song. ANY type of ending, if used in every song, will get old pretty quickly.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0