Skip to content

What is an outro in a song?

The outro is the end of a song, after the last chorus. It winds the song down: a fade-out, the hook repeated as parts drop away, the intro played again, or one last held chord.

Usually 4 bars · 4 to 8 bars; 16 to 32 in dance music

Where the outro goes

Last, after the final chorus or drop. In dance music it is mostly beat, for a DJ to mix out of.

The outro, lit on a pop song map at 110 BPM.

Open this song map in the editor

A pop beat across all 72 bars, with a marker at each section, to change part by part. No account needed to start.

How long is an outro?

An outro usually runs 4 bars (4 to 8 bars; 16 to 32 in dance music). In seconds, that depends on the tempo:

How long an outro of 4 bars is at three tempos
Tempo4 bars8 bars
90 BPM11 s21 s
110 BPM9 s17 s
128 BPM8 s15 s

How to make an outro

  • Take parts away one by one, so the song ends on its simplest form.
  • Bring back the intro, so the song ends where it started.
  • End on the home chord, or fade the last chorus out.

Questions about the outro

How long is an outro?

Usually 4 to 8 bars, 8 seconds to 16 seconds at 120 BPM. Dance music outros run 16 to 32 bars, mostly beat.

What is the difference between an intro and an outro?

The intro opens the song and sets it up. The outro ends it, usually by winding it down.

Other parts of a song

IntroVersePre-chorusChorusPost-chorusHookRefrainBridgeBreakdownDrop

Song maps with an outro

Pop song structureRap song structureEDM song structureHouse song structureRock song structureMetal song structureR&B song structureCountry song structure

Map out a song

The free editor opens with a pop beat laid out as a whole song, a marker at each section. Change any part, add one, or take one away.

Open a song mapSong structure

Keep going