# Cadences

*Module 8 · Lesson 6: Harmony in a key · BazzLow*

> Recognise the main cadences and the bass motion in each.

Before this lesson: [8.5 Common progressions](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/common-progressions/)

Music punctuates itself. The end of a phrase has a chord motion, and each kind of motion feels like a different mark of punctuation.

## What a cadence is

A **cadence** is the chord motion that ends a phrase, like punctuation.

*The four main cadences.*

| Cadence | Chords | Effect | Bass motion (roots) | Examples in C and Am |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Authentic** | V → I | final, a full stop | 5 → 1 | G → C; E → Am |
| **Plagal** | IV → I | soft close, the “Amen” ending | 4 → 1 | F → C; Dm → Am |
| **Half** | any → V | open, a comma or question | ends on 5 | F → G; Dm → E |
| **Deceptive** | V → vi (or another chord than I) | surprise: expected home, not reached | 5 → 6 | G → Am; E → F |

## Perfect and imperfect

An **authentic cadence** is called **perfect** when both chords are in root position and the melody ends on the tonic. Otherwise it is **imperfect**. Some books also count vii° → I as an imperfect authentic cadence. The **plagal cadence** is IV → I, the **half cadence** ends on V, and the **deceptive cadence** goes from V to a chord other than I.

> **Diagram:** The bass motions of three cadences in C: 5→1 (G on the E string, fret 3, to C on the A string, fret 3: same fret, next string up); 4→1 (F at fret 1 to C at fret 3); 5→6 (G at fret 3 to A at fret 5, both on the E string).

## For the bass

Root position (5 → 1) gives the strongest cadence. Ending on another chord tone, or on an inversion, weakens it on purpose. In minor keys the authentic cadence uses the major V (V → i), and the deceptive cadence goes V → VI.

## Try it

In C, play the roots of a phrase that ends with each cadence: C F G C (authentic), C G F C (plagal ending), C F C G (half), C F G Am (deceptive). Describe how each ending feels.

## New terms

- cadence
- authentic cadence
- perfect cadence
- imperfect cadence
- plagal cadence
- half cadence
- deceptive cadence

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/cadences/