• The imperfect cadence always ends with chord V. It gives the feeling of a half-close in the music, like a comma. The most common imperfect cadence is I – V. This is written exactly like the Perfect cadence but backwards. Other common Imperfect cadences are II – V & IV – V.
• Watch the leading note carefully, it will fall from the tonic. Don’t forget in a minor key to raise the leading note.
• In II – V try to make the soprano & bass move in contrary motion. Only use II – V in a major key.
• In VI – V don’t forget to double the 3rd in chord VI and make two voices rise and two fall. One of the voices falling will be the tonic to leading note.
• In IV – V the bass will often rise and all the other 3 parts fall. This is to help avoid consecutive octaves between the two roots.
INTERRUPTED CADENCE
• The Interrupted cadence is chords V – VI and has a very unfinished sound, like a question mark in the music, leading it on to something more.
• Double the 3rd in chord VI.
• The bass will move up a step. The leading note must rise to the tonic. The other two parts will fall.
