Modest Archive

Keys

Major Natural minor Harmonic minor

Cadences

Authentic cadences

A cadence from V to I. Typically with V⁷ and preceeding the V a I⁶₄ can be used with good effect.

Name	Chords	Comment
Perfect authentic cadence	V → I	Chords are in root position and the tonic is in the highest voice of the final chord.
Root position imperfect authentic cadence	V → I	Perfect authentic cadence but the highest voice is not the tonic.
Inverted imperfect authentic cadence	V → I	Perfect authentic cadence but one or both cords are inverted.
Leading-tone imperfect authentic cadence	vii° → I	V chord is replaced with vii°.
Evaded cadence	V⁴₂ → I⁶	Since the 7 in the base must fall with half-step the cadences ends unstably on I⁶.

Half cadences

A half cadence is any cadence ending on V. The half cadances are several and not all of them have names. This cadence is also know as imperfect cadence and calls for a continuation.

Name	Chords	Comment
	II → V	II is V of V, making it an authentic cadence in the dominant.
	ii → V	Similar to the one above.
	vi → V
	IV → V
	I → V	A plagal cadence in the dominant.
Phrygian half cadence	vi⁶ → V	Only in minor. For extra Renaissance feeling, preceed it with a v: v → vi⁶ → V.

Plagal cadences

Plagal cadence reaches I from IV.

Name	Chords	Comment
Plagal cadence	IV → I	Can be thought of as a I → V half cadence too.
Minor plagal cadence	IV → iv → I	Gives a nice and cheezy sound. Go here for the memes.

Modulations

Name	Chords	Comment
	iv → ♭VII7 → ♭III	Evading minor plagal cadence and modulating to ♭III.