Brainlag Plus

Cadences and chords for a melody

Music theory, Triads, chords and cadences, 15 minutes

Perfect, plagal and imperfect cadences in C, G, D and F major, and how to choose the chords that fit under the last two notes of a phrase.

Three cadences

A cadence is the pair of chords at the end of a phrase. Grade 5 asks for three, in the major keys of C, G, D and F:

Perfect: V then I. It sounds finished, like a full stop.
Plagal: IV then I. Softer, the "Amen" at the end of a hymn.
Imperfect: I, II or IV then V. It ends on V, so it sounds open, like a comma.

A perfect cadence in G major: V then I

An imperfect cadence in G major: I then V

Tip: look at the last chord first. Ending on V means imperfect. Ending on I means perfect (from V) or plagal (from IV).

The rest of this lesson and its 5 practice questions are in Plus.

Screen 1 of 5, free to read.