Cadences

A cadence is a chord progression of at least two chords that indicate the end of a phrase or a end of a melodic section.

There are two principals type of cadences: Finished Cadences and unfinished Cadences.

Finished Cadences: A phrase that ends with a finished cadence sounds like ending.
Unfinished Cadences: A phrase that ends with an unfinished cadence sounds like not ending.

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Differences between British and American terminologies

About cadences, there are differences between British and American terminologies:

Authentic cadence	Perfect cadence
Perfect Authentic cadence	No British label for that concept
Imperfect authentic cadence	No British label for that concept
Half-cadence (semi-cadence)	Imperfect cadence
Plagal cadence	Plagal cadence
Deceptive cadence	Interrupted cadence

Finished Cadences

A phrase that ends with a finished cadence sounds like ending. There are different kinds of finished cadences:

Perfect cadence

A perfect cadence is a cadence from V to I (dominant to tonic).

Authentic cadences

There are 2 kinds of authentic cadences: Perfect authentic cadence, imperfect authentic cadence:

Perfect authentic cadence

A perfect authentic cadence is a cadence from V to I (dominant to tonic) with two other necessary conditions: Chords are in root position and the upper voice ends on degree I.

Imperfect authentic cadence

An imperfect authentic cadence is a cadence from V to I (dominant to tonic) that fails to meet requirements of perfect authentic cadence (root position and I on upper voice)

Here are some reason of the failed requirements:

One of the chord is not in root position:

The upper note is not the first degree (I):

Plagal cadence

A plagal cadence is a cadence from IV to I (Subdominant to tonic).

Unfinished Cadences

A phrase that ends with an unfinished cadence sounds like not ending. There are different kinds of unfinished cadences:

Half cadence / Imperfect cadence

A half cadence () or an imperfect cadence () is a cadence ending on degree V, whether preceded by any other chord. This cadence sounds like incomplete or suspended, it is like a pause in the music.

Deceptive cadence / Interrupted cadence

A deceptive cadence () or interrupted cadence () is a cadence from V to VI. Normally after the degree V, we are expecting for the degree I but the degree VI make a feeling of interruption and suspension.

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