Chords and cadences
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify different chord types by ear and through notation, and can identify different cadences.
Key learning points
- Major triads, minor triads and extended chords can be identified by listening carefully to the feeling of each chord.
- The tonic chord (I) can be identified by the ‘finished’ feeling that it creates.
- The dominant (V) and subdominant (IV) chords can be identified by listening for the bass notes.
- We can identify cadences by the feeling they create - perfect and plagal feel finished, imperfect and interrupted don’t.
- Listening for the bass notes helps to distinguish between perfect (V-I) and plagal (IV-I) cadences.
Keywords
Tonic - chord I in a key
Dominant - chord V in a key
Subdominant - chord IV in a key
Perfect cadence - a V-I progression at the end of a section of music; it feels resolved
Imperfect cadence - when a section ends on chord V, feeling unfinished
Common misconception
Chord IV and V sound the same, so plagal and perfect cadences sound the same.
They sound similar, but not identical. Picking out the bass note is the key - if you can hear that note, you can work out how it relates to the tonic, so can work out which chord (and cadence) you are listening to.
Teacher tip
Pupils often find distinguishing between chords and cadences challenging. Additional practice of picking out and singing bass notes, and identifying intervals is invaluable. Drill students on the 'feeling' of imperfect and interrupted cadences to help them develop instinctive recognition of those.
Licence
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