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==Versions==
===The Frail===
A very simplistic instrumental in two parts, "The Frail" shares its progression with the guitar solo in "[[The Fragile (song)|The Fragile]]," and was apparently inspired by the form of [[Keith Hillebrandt]]'s remix of that track (available on per its description when it was posted to [[ninremix.com|nin.com]] during The Fragile era). This half-note progression and background chorus synthesizers that appear to be based on samples of Reznor's voice (heard from the end of "[[The Day The World Went Away (song)|The Day The World Went Away]]") are the sole elements of this song. The piece seems to have been recorded free of a specific tempo. A new, deeper progression and chorus pads seemingly based on (or in tribute to) David Bowie's "[[Subterraneans]]" slowly build to a synthesized vocal harmony, leading into "The Wretched."
===The Frail (Alternate Version)===
'''''Running Time: 1:46'''''
Released on ''The Fragile: Deviations 1''. Also known as "The Frail" (Alt) when it was originally released on Apple Music as part of ''The Fragile Instrumental''. This seems to be a different piano performance at an even slower tempo, and lacks any synthesizer layers.
===The Frail (Version)===
'''''Running Time: 2:47'''''
Found on ''Things Falling Apart,'' this version contains distorted elements and string instruments, with the melody played on a violin rather than a piano.
*Manipulation: [[Benelli]]
*Production: [[Joshua Eustis]], Turk Dietrich
*Violin: Steve Hakel*Cello: Mark Paradis ===The Frail (''And All That Could Have Been'')===On this live version, [[Trent Reznor]] starts by playing the melody solo on a keyboard. There is some improvisation, setting it apart from the album version. As it builds, the other sound elements are incorporated. As on ''The Fragile,'' it provides a segue into "The Wretched."Ha
==Live==
"The Frail" made its live debut on [[1999/11/14 Barcelona, Spain|November 14, 1999]]. This song is frequently performed live, as on the album, leading into "The Wretched." Reznor has been known to improvise and expand upon the basic piano part in a live setting. More recently, Reznor has occasionally used this song as an intro to "[[The Good Soldier]]," "[[Closer]]," "[[Reptile]]," "[[La Mer]]" and "[[Metal]]."It was also partly incorporated as an outro to the 2018 live rendition of "Subterraneans".
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