Cadences
Every musical phrase needs a way to end — a period, a comma, or a surprising twist. That's exactly what cadences do for harmony.
What is a cadence?
A cadence is a short chord progression — usually just two chords — that closes out a musical phrase. Cadences are the punctuation marks of harmony: some feel like a full stop, others like a comma, and one is a deliberate plot twist.
The four main cadences
| Cadence | Chords | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Authentic | V → I | A period — fully resolved |
| Plagal | IV → I | The "Amen" — resolved, softer |
| Half | (any) → V | A comma — left open |
| Deceptive | V → vi | A twist — expected I, got vi |
Why the deceptive cadence surprises us
A deceptive cadence sets up a V chord — priming your ear for the strongest possible resolution to I — and then lands on vi instead. Because vi shares two notes with I, it still sounds like a plausible landing, just not the one you expected. Composers use this to extend a phrase or dodge an ending that would feel too final too soon.
Common questions
What is a cadence in music?
A short progression that ends a phrase, creating a sense of pause or full stop — like punctuation.
What is an authentic cadence?
A V-I (or V7-I) progression — the strongest, most conclusive cadence, like a period.
What is a plagal cadence?
A IV-I progression, the "Amen cadence" — resolved but gentler than authentic.
What is the difference between a half cadence and a deceptive cadence?
A half cadence ends on V, left open like a comma. A deceptive cadence sets up V but resolves to vi, a surprising twist instead of the expected I.
Hear cadences in any key
Melody Monkey visualizes chord progressions on a live guitar, bass, ukulele, or piano.
Open the progression builder →Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about Cadences →