Db cadences
Cadential progressions in the selected major key: authentic, plagal, deceptive and half cadences.
Build a cadence into a progression
A cadence marks a phrase boundary, while a progression organises longer harmonic motion. Compare their formulas and functions.
What is a cadence
A cadence is a harmonic progression that marks the boundary of a phrase, period, or section. A strong cadence confirms the key and closes the unit; a weaker or deceptive cadence leaves room for continuation.
In functional harmony, tonic is the stable centre, dominant creates a directed pull toward tonic, and predominant harmonies prepare dominant. The authentic V–I motion connects tension and stability most directly.
Main types include perfect and imperfect authentic V–I, plagal IV–I, deceptive V–vi, and half cadences ending on V. ii–V–I expands authentic motion with predominant ii. Understanding these functions helps analyse progressions and choose scales for the harmonic context.