7.4: Cadences

We’ve been studying harmony—triads and chords. A cadence is a harmonic arrival point, a harmonic moment of stasis. A cadence can be compared to a comma or period in written language—the ear gets a moment to process a short passage of music, then the music continues. We will differentiate between four basic cadences now, adding more specificity in a later chapter.

1. Authentic Cadence (AC): a phrase ending with the chords VV–II
2. Plagal Cadence (PC): a phrase ending with the chords IVIV–II
3. Deceptive Cadence (DC): a phrase ending with the chords VV–vivi
4. Half Cadence (HC): a phrase ending on the VV chord

7.4.1 Examples of Authentic Cadences

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Francis Scott Key and John Stafford Smith, “Star-Spangled Banner”

In the example above, the notes surrounded by parentheses are non-chord tones, which will be studied later. Also, there are seventh chords in this example, which we will study in the next chapter. Here is another example ending with an authentic cadence.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Lennon-McCartney, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”

7.4.2 Examples of Plagal Cadences

Here are examples with plagal cadences.

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\):

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Pink, Bhasker, and Ruess, “Just Give Me a Reason”

Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Hozer-Byrne, “Take Me to Church”

7.4.3 Examples of Deceptive Cadences

Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro, “Voi che sapete”

Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\): Kelly and Steinberg, “True Colors”

The following example, from the prelude to Act I of Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde, is arguably one of the most famous deceptive cadences in the history of classical music.

Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\): Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, Prelude to Act I

A deceptive cadence means VV did not go to II. This means that “VV to not-II” is technically a more correct description for a deceptive cadence than VV-vivi, which is the most common realization of “VV to not-II.” In the example below, VV goes to IV3rdIV/3rd.

Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\): Mozart, Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618

7.4.4 Examples of Half Cadences

Figure \(\PageIndex{10}\): Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, I.

Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\): Sheeran and Wadge, “Thinking Out Loud”

You may encounter chords with no thirds in rock and pop music. If you encounter a chord that has only a root and fifth, label it with a “5” after the root in lead sheet labeling (e.g., BB5, as in the next example). Additionally, you may encounter incomplete chords.

Definition 7.4.12.

Incomplete chords are chords containing only the root and third but no fifth.

Figure \(\PageIndex{13}\): Bieber, Blanco, and Sheeran, “Love Yourself”