Cadence as musical punctuation

Open the interactive module

Degrees and function

A cadence supports a phrase ending or pause through harmony and melody. V–I models an authentic cadence, IV–I a plagal one, while a half cadence can stop on V and leave continuation expected. Rhythm and voicing help determine the effect.

Two chord labels alone do not establish equal closure. Root position, melodic arrival and metric placement matter. Cadential analysis helps locate phrase boundaries; listen for the completion of a musical thought rather than assuming every barline marks an ending.

Example

In C major, Dm–G ending on G can form a half-cadence context.

Try it

Which roots form V–I in F major?

Related topics

References

Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom

Subject-expert review pending.