Cadence

Cadence is the termination of a musical phrase, section or piece of music, and depending on relationship of the notes it contains to what has gone before, shapes the music in the form of resolution or irresolution; tension or release.

Leading Tones

A note that resolves to a note one semitone higher or lower. For example B (the 7th) in C Major is a leading tone for the tonic. The motion of leading tone to tonic is one of the strongest resolutions in music. The resolution of a leading tone to the tonic is one of the most powerful resolutions in music.

Types

• Lower Leading Tones resolve up, for example B to C in C major.
• Upper Leading Tones resolve down, for example D to C in C major.

Types of Cadence

Authentic

The authentic cadence is the most popular cadence in music. It is a full resolution of tension, with a resolution to the tonic. It's a (strong) full stop.

Types

• Perfect Authentic cadence is a powerful resolution.
  • Moves from V to I
  • The bass note of the V is the root
  • The bass note of the I is the root (and therefore the tonic)
  • The highest note of the I is also the tonic
  • The highest note of the V chord will act as a lower leading note into the highest note of the I
  • Chords will either be root position with the I chord containing an added tonic an octave higher than the root, or be inversions.with an added bass note).
• Imperfect Authentic cadence resolves with less gravity.

Plagal

Half

Deceptive