Questions tagged [cadence]
A melodic and/or harmonic configuration at the end of a phrase, section, or piece of music.
112
questions
3
votes
2answers
76 views
Name for second last note before resolution?
If I have a phrase and there is no chords, just single tones.
The phrase ends on the tonic.
Is there a term for the second last note if its always +/- 1 step (in the scale) away from tonic?
Can I call ...
2
votes
2answers
377 views
Can someone explain what an imperfect authentic cadence is? What are the requirements to make this?
I don't really fully understand what an imperfect authentic cadence is. I was told that if the chords are inverted, then it's considered an IAC. Or maybe the melody can be 4–3, etc. I just need an ...
4
votes
1answer
151 views
Is a phrygian cadence iv6 - V or can it also be VI - V?
I have always thought that a phrygian cadence was VI - V but I now read that it is actually iv6 - V. Can both be used?
1
vote
0answers
38 views
What are some useful resources for modal study? [closed]
I'm looking for some useful historical references for modal study. Specifically, great books or texts on how modes evolved, progressed and became the elusive subject they are today.
What resources ...
4
votes
2answers
108 views
Were Plagal Cadences always used with an Authentic Cadence preceding it?
In typical 19th-century harmony, was a Plagal Cadence always used with an Authentic Cadence preceding it? To put it another way, was it typically ever used out of its "Amen" context?
1
vote
1answer
70 views
Do accidentals apply to notes in the same measure but in different octaves? [duplicate]
In a work by Leonarda (1693) I find that there are octave leaps at a cadence with an accidental sharp on the first note but no explicit accidental on the lower note. Surely the lower note should also ...
5
votes
2answers
358 views
Why does this website include ii-I as a plagal cadence?
Has ii-I ever been a plagal cadence or is this site incorrect?
https://www.simplifyingtheory.com/perfect-imperfect-plagal-deceptive-half-cadence/
0
votes
2answers
59 views
Why does an imperfect cadence not include IV-I?
I am learning that an imperfect cadence only involves inverted chords with the V-I. Why is IV not included? Should an 'imperfect' plagal cadence be avoided?
3
votes
2answers
523 views
Why is there no name for the ii-I cadence (Only the V-I and IV-I)?
Is the ii-I cadence considered bad practice since it doesn't have enough movement or resolution? Example - the chord progression (I-vi-IV-ii) (I-vi-IV-I)
There is no name for cadences other than V-I ...
2
votes
3answers
128 views
Can a cadence happen only at the end of a measure?
In this chord progression, | I vi IV V | I vi IV V | I |, there seems to be a perfect cadence that occurs at the end of one chord progression/measure (V) and the beginning of the next chord ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
What are the cadences in minor keys?
There are four basic cadences - perfect, plagal, imperfect and interrupted - in U.K. terms. In major keys, they are, simply put, V>I, IV>I, I>V, and V>vi (often) respectively.
I'm looking ...
3
votes
1answer
174 views
Help identifying cadences and modes in iidim7 - i - vidim - vsus4
I'm a beginner when it comes to modes and cadences, and I want to understand them better to improve my song-writing as a metal guitarist. While fiddling with my guitar today, I "wrote" this ...
1
vote
2answers
140 views
2 atypical cadences, are they half cadences?
So, I analyzed the harmony and structure of Grande Valse Brilliante op. 18, and most of the cadences make perfect sense to me, but there are 2 cadences that don't really, one on the tonic, which I can ...
2
votes
2answers
113 views
Can someone explain the resolutions in Rachmaninoff Prelude in C# Minor?
I started to learn the Rachmaninoff Prelude in C# Minor (Op. 3 No. 2). Until recently I have had not much experience with music theory, except for the very basic things.
In order to remember the piece ...
2
votes
6answers
123 views
Chromatic approaching dominant
I'm having a little trouble analyzing this blues-y cadence.
I've called the dominant chord a G9 even though there is no third (B) at the end of the bar. I think this makes sense, since it is ...
2
votes
4answers
315 views
What is the significance of learning ''cadences" in music composition?
What is the significance in understanding this concept if I wanted to write music?
If I understood cadences, then would that mean I would be able to structure my compositions?
1
vote
3answers
100 views
Help with the last chord in progression
I have following progression:
G-Em-Bm-C
G-Em-Bm-C
G-Bm-F#m-A
D-Bm-F#m-???
G-Em-Bm-C...
I am happy with the progression and it works well, but struggling with the last chord.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
2
votes
2answers
110 views
Why does the V-I cadence sound tonal rather than modal?
I have heard that the V-I cadence is to be avoided when playing chant accompaniment: e.g., Gregorian chant.
It seems to me that the leading tone going to the tonic makes it sound like a tonal cadence ...
4
votes
4answers
411 views
How is Db major functioning here? Subdominant Prolongation? Some kind of Dominant?
While improvising for a piece in Eb major, I came across an interesting progression. Eb -> Ab -> Db -> Eb But something that I couldn't figure out was the function of the Db. Here is the ...
0
votes
1answer
142 views
Soprano melody in PAC
When it comes to part-writing in a V7-I cadence, I understand that the leading tone in an outer voice must resolve to the tonic (^7->^1) and that the chordal 7th of the V7 (^4) should resolve down by ...
1
vote
1answer
483 views
Dorian mode cadences
From this question I read that modal cadences are different from tonic cadences.
I'm trying to learn Dorian mode and I noted that in the answer they offer the suggestion of the second chord, first ...
5
votes
8answers
828 views
Going from ♭VI to I
I have seen and heard a bVI -> I progression in quite a few scores to create an inspiring feeling (for example, from an F major chord to an A major chord) and was wondering how this could be ...
23
votes
11answers
7k views
Why does Bach sometimes end with flat 7ths?
I've been studying the Bach inventions, and I see a common patterns in the first 3 inventions: They tend to include the flat 7ths in the very end. Examples:
C major:
D major:
E♭ major:
From a ...
1
vote
2answers
129 views
Backdoor cadences - what would be the ♭VII chord in A major?
So I'm currently learning about using resolution in guitar chord progressions, and so far I have learned about tension chords which is usually, but not limited to, the fifth chord in the scale that ...
3
votes
2answers
92 views
How do I write a cadence without any context?
I am studying for my online RCM theory exam, and since I have no contact with my piano teacher I’ve been correcting with the answer book. My answers and the answers in the book are very different. I ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Have I identified my cadences correctly?
I am having so much trouble with cadence identification. After hours of Youtube video explanations I think that I have this correctly. Have I? How can I make this process easier?
a. Perfect
b. ...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
How is a clausula tertiaria/medians distinguished from a modulation to the relative major?
How is a clausula tertiaria/medians distinguished from a modulation to the relative major?
Clausula tertiaria came up in the answer to one of my earlier questions.
Some of the definitions I have ...
5
votes
3answers
146 views
Roman Numerals and VII#
The following is an excerpt from this Wikipedia article:
[The Lydian cadence] is so-called because it evokes the Lydian mode
based on its final chord as a tonic, and may be construed with the
...
6
votes
2answers
308 views
In a minor key can a cadence on the relative major be considered a type of quasi half cadence?
My question is not: what is the textbook definition of a half cadence?
What I am trying to get at is the perception of an incomplete, sort of antecedent phrase ending.
When playing the following ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
Diminished seventh cadence, is this an IAC or a PAC?
I have seen a few cadences where the only dominant function chord used cadentially is a diminished seventh, mainly resolving to root position tonic, though I have seen a few resolve to an inverted ...
3
votes
3answers
219 views
Genesis' bVII-V-I cadence
In the verse part of Genesis' "Behind the Lines", the last line of the chord progression goes:
F C Dm Bb G -> C (resolution)
What is that cadence? What is the theory for that bVII - V - I?
I'...
0
votes
3answers
170 views
cadences with triads with two different notes
Can a cadence consist of a triad with only 2 different notes?
Let's say I'm in Fmaj and want to include an imperfect cadence (ii - V):
G - D - G followed by C - E - G. The first triad has only two ...
2
votes
0answers
60 views
Is this an example of Modal interchange? [duplicate]
The section I'm referring to is circled in red.
The piece is in D♭ major. And I think here it's in F mixolydian, as both Cmin7 and F7 are in F mixolydian. Also, this part is the end of a phrase and ...
4
votes
6answers
1k views
How to make a plagal cadence sound convincing as an ending?
I am nearing the end of composing the first movement of my suite. And I plan to end the movement using a plagal cadence. But I know that a plagal cadence can be hard to make sound convincing. I mean ...
0
votes
0answers
104 views
(Conflict) Kostka/Payne Cadence Chart vs. Authentic Cadence in Natural Minor [duplicate]
According to Is this generic cadence chart from Kostka/Payne generally accepted?,
However, the authentic cadence in natural minor, which is v-i, does not meet the definition by Kostka/Payne here. ...
0
votes
0answers
127 views
Variant Cadences
I've gone through many unusual cadences so far - conclusive cadences that are not V-I, V-i, v-i (rare), viio-I, #viio-i, IV-I, or iv-i, and progressive cadences that are not V, v (rare), V-vi, V-VI, ...
2
votes
1answer
3k views
♭VII-I Cadence, ♭III-I Cadence: Name?
I've gone through a bunch of ♭VII-I and ♭III-I cadences in rock music. In C major, they are B♭-C and E♭-C.
Is there a specific name for the two cadences? So far, I've been calling them authentic ...
1
vote
1answer
221 views
Is there a standard set of cadences designed for the seven modes?
On Cadences for Modes and Modal Cadence Options, Dom, Richard, and I came up with a group of modal cadences. Specifically (correct order from Ionian to Locrian):
Dom: ii-I, VII-i, II-i, II-I, VII-I, ...
3
votes
2answers
246 views
Why do plagal cadences in minor keys often use a Picardy 3rd?
In major keys, plagal cadences often occur as IV-I - as it is supposed to be.
In minor keys, plagal cadences are originally supposed to be iv-i, but composers would often use a Picardy 3rd, making it ...
-1
votes
1answer
119 views
Ger.6-I cadence - Name?
I was looking at some Romantic era works, and I have found an unusual cadence of:
Is there a name for this cadence? I'm tempted to say it is a variant plagal cadence - A plagal cadence is normally a ...
-2
votes
2answers
853 views
♭II6-I Cadence: Plagal or Authentic?
Chopin's Etude No. 16 in A minor, Op. 25 No. 4, ends with a cadence like this:
B♭/D - A
In Roman numerals, we write as:
♭II6 - I
Is this cadence viewed as Plagal (N6 - I), or Authentic (tt - ...
3
votes
2answers
204 views
Does the II chord in the Phrygian II-i cadence count as tritone substitution?
In Phrygian modal music, the II-i cadence is pretty common. Does the II chord here count as a tritone substitute chord that is substituting for vo?
1
vote
1answer
227 views
Is there a name for this cadence - [Tritone Sub of V] - I
Sometimes I've been going through [Tritone Sub of V] - I cadences. Is there a specific name for this?
5
votes
4answers
578 views
Resolving to minmaj7
Looking for possible resolutions to a imaj7.
Theoretical or not - shoot!
Out-of-the-ordinary resolutions are needed (I already know the theory behind it, using possible modes and all ).
Looking ...
1
vote
3answers
640 views
How can I analyze some parts of this excerpt?
I have two questions about this excerpt.
In measure 1 (don't include the pickup note as a measure), there is an Eb tonic chord in the bass staff. How would the F in the melody line be analyzed as a ...
2
votes
1answer
616 views
Is a v-VI♭ progression in a minor key still a deceptive cadence?
I was just listening to a rock song that is in a minor key, and the phrase ends with a v moving to a VI♭ chord.
Since the dominant chord is taken from the natural minor and doesn't contain the ...
0
votes
1answer
211 views
Can this chord progression be viewed as a cadence?
I was wondering if this ending chord progression to Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song" could be viewed as a cadence.
"The Rain Song" uses a very interesting guitar tuning (D-G-C-G-C-D). The notes also ...
2
votes
2answers
5k views
Is there a name for this cadence? (bVI bVII I) [duplicate]
I hear this chord progression (bVI bVII I) occur a lot in popular music. Is there a name for this progression or cadence? If I heard this at the end of a song or piece, how would I describe it?
My ...
1
vote
3answers
538 views
Can a cadence end with a secondary dominant?
If I ended a 4 measure phrase with a V resolving to a V7/IV chord, would this still be considered a cadence since it concludes the phrase?
When listening to this, it almost feels like an authentic ...
5
votes
3answers
483 views
Different harmonic changes implied by a simple descending scale
This is a question that readers may find confusing. It is a bit confusing to me too, but I'll try to explain and illustrate it as best as I can.
What are the harmonic functions (in terms of Roman-...
