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Deceptive cadence

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Degrees and function

Deceptive cadence · G → Am → V → vi

Play the bass line before adding the chords. Read Roman numerals relative to the current centre. In an applied-function label the target appears after the slash.

Example

Progression / function or voice movement · G → Am / V → vi

Progression / function or voice movement

G → Am V → vi

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Does the last chord sound conclusive or invite continuation?

AnswerListen separately to the bass destination and the final upper note. Changing the upper voice can alter closure over the same chord progression.

Related topics

Cadence as musical punctuation

References

Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom · Further reading

Subject-expert review pending.