neirocca sound-first music theory

Cadences

What is tested

You will identify a cadence from the score and choose chords to build a named cadence at the end of a phrase. Interrupted and imperfect cadences are confused far more often than the other two.

Common mistakes

Imperfect and interrupted cadences are confused because both sound unresolved. An imperfect cadence ends on V; an interrupted cadence moves from V to vi. Identify the final chord rather than trusting the feeling of incompleteness.

Practice with

The tool below checks your answer against the theory engine, so you get the same verdict a marker would.

Open the tool: Cadence Trainer →

Read the lesson

Related reading

All topics in this exam