Decide where the final phrase ends
Listen to the reference and identify whether it fades, repeats, or reaches a definite final chord. A solo version needs a repeatable plan even when the recording disappears gradually. Choose the number of final repetitions and count the last phrase. Keep the harmony simple enough that you can sing the ending without watching every finger. The last chord may feel like home, but its name alone does not tell you when to strike it, how long to hold it, or whether the final release should be quiet or sharply defined.
Choose one expressive detail
Try a gentle final brush, a slowly rolled chord, or a clean stopped chord. Compare these at the same point in the phrase. You do not need to combine a slowdown, extra fill, large accent, and long hold to signal completion. If you choose a slowdown, begin it at a specific place and practice its shape. On a lightly sustaining instrument, a long hold may fade naturally sooner than expected, so listen to the actual sound instead of counting beyond the point where the chord remains musically present.
Practice the release with the voice
Start several measures before the end and include the final sung syllable, chord attack, sustain, and stop. Use the checked AudioChords harmony as a reference while making your live ending explicit in your own notes. Record two attempts and compare whether they arrive and release consistently. If another player joins you, agree on a visible cue or a fixed count. An ending feels finished when its timing and intention are clear. Once you choose a version, include it in complete practice runs so the song does not habitually end with an uncertain extra strum.