What Is a Cadence?
Up to the previous lesson, you should have gotten a sense of the tonic, subdominant and dominant chords in each key and their functions.
This time, let's use them to look a little deeper.
A concept we'd like you to learn here is the "cadence".
Put simply, you can think of a cadence as "the smallest unit of a chord progression".
It's the minimum movement needed to create a sense of story with a chord progression.
Below are examples of cadences formed using T, SD and D.
First, let's look at the three basic ones.
The examples are in the key of C, as usual.
T → D → T
- I → V → I (C → G → C)
- I → V7 → I (C → G7 → C)
As expected, V7 is more unstable, and adding a pause heightens the anticipation of I even more.
Also, with a rhythm like this, it reminds you of the "stand, bow, sit" chords played in Japanese schools.
Even with the same T, using the four-note Cmaj7 gives a slightly stylish "stand, bow, sit."
- Imaj7 → V7 → Imaj7 (Cmaj7 → G7 → Cmaj7)
It somehow brings to mind a scene of sitting down and still gazing absently out the window, but making the last chord a C triad sounds slightly brighter and more conclusive.
- Imaj7 → V7 → I (Cmaj7 → G7 → C)
In this way, you can express all kinds of things even within the same T → D → T cadence.
T → SD → T
As we touched on before, cadences made only of the tonic and subdominant are characterized by landing on the tonic more gently than those that include the dominant.
- I → IV → I (C → F → C)
It feels like a light skip and a landing. Be sure to try it with four-note chords too.
Note that the examples shown here are only the minimum movements.
We'll cover this in more detail later, but cases such as C → C → F → C, where the tonic continues for two bars, are also classified as T → SD → T.
- I → I → IV → I (C → C → F → C)
T → SD → D → T
With a very smooth flow, moving from stability to the next development and then through tension to a sense of relief, this is a typical cadence.
- I → IV → V7 → I (C → F → G7 → C)
Try various things with this too, such as using four-note chords or changing V7 to V.
Taking advantage of the strong sense of landing from V7 to I, using it "only at the very end of a song" is also a good idea.
Other Chord Flows
So far the "D → SD" flow hasn't appeared, but listen to this.
- T → D → SD → (T)
The arrangement plays a part too, but overall it has a rock feel.
From the movement of the root notes, it may be familiar to those who listen to blues.
Played gently on piano alone and landing on the tonic at the end, it sounds like this.
The flow from D to SD was once forbidden, but as music from various origins has blended, new uses have emerged over time.
This time we looked at several cadences, and most songs in the world are made by connecting these cadences.
Based on what you have learned so far, keep analyzing songs.
You're sure to make many discoveries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the difference between a cadence and a chord progression?
A cadence is the smallest unit of a chord progression, a progression that has musical completeness using the T, SD and D functions. A whole chord progression is built by connecting multiple cadences.
Q2. What is the difference between V7 and V?
V7 (a seventh chord) is more unstable and tense than V, and its resolution to the tonic is more vivid. V, on the other hand, gives a relatively gentle progression and broadens your range of expression.
Q3. Which cadence should beginners learn first?
The T → SD → D → T cadence is the most basic, and its flow from stability through tension to resolution is easy to understand, so we recommend learning it first.
Q4. How can knowledge of cadences be used in composing?
Understanding cadences lets you intentionally build effective chord progressions that give listeners anticipation and reassurance, enabling more convincing songwriting.
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