Grade Six Music Theory - Progressions and Cadences Exercises
Chord Progressions and Cadences (A4)
Move your mouse slowly over the staves and light-bulbs (tap on mobile devices) to reveal the answers.
Exercise 1: Cadences
- Where do we normally find cadences?
- How can you be sure that you are looking at the end of a piece, in the grade 6 exam?
- Using Roman numerals, name the chords in a) a perfect cadence, and b) a plagal cadence.
- Which chord does an imperfect cadence finish on?
- Identify the following cadences as “perfect”, “plagal” or “imperfect”.
6. Complete the missing alto and tenor parts in these cadences. Double the root of the chord, and keep the top parts as close together as possible. All unmarked chords are root position.
Progressions
1. Complete the progression of fifths (major key): IV - vii° -
2. Which chords make up a cadential 6-4 (in Roman numerals with inversions)?
3. How does the bass line move in a passing 6-4?
4. Which two chords are a common progression in minor keys, where you have to "break" a rule in the second chord?
5. And which rule do you need to "break"?
6. Identify the second inversion chord in each extract, and then say whether it is part of a passing 6-4 or a cadential 6-4.
7. Write the chord notes to complete the following 6-4 progressions. Make sure each voice moves as little as possible, keeping the same note in the same part whenever you can.
