16.3: The Cadential Six-Four Chord
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16.3 The Cadential Six-Four Chord
A common term in music theory—the “cadential six-four” (or cadential 46)—is used to refer to the II46 that regularly proceeds the VV chord in cadences.
It is worth remembering that the cadential 46 (or II46) has dominant function, just like the VV chord that usually follows it. Previously, we have called this chord “I5thI/5th.”
We will use the term “cadential six-four” throughout the rest of this text, now that figured bass has been introduced.