High School · Advanced High School · AURAL SKILLS

Cadence Trainer

Hear the phrase, then identify how it ends. Every cadence has a musical lead-in.

Set up your listening

DifficultyMode — Practice or Test/HomeworkQuestions

Practice allows unlimited listening. Homework allows three plays per question. Each phrase has four lead-in chords followed by the two cadence chords.

Which cadence ends this phrase?

Lead-in · establish the keyCadence · listen to the ending

Listen to the last two chords: authentic ends V–I; half ends on V; plagal ends IV–I; deceptive moves from V to another chord, usually vi in major or VI in minor. The lead-in establishes the key before the ending. In minor keys, the dominant uses a raised leading note.

Learning guide · need a hand?

Cadence Trainer: a quick guide

Your goal

Listen to how the phrase ends. The last two chords make a cadence: some sound finished, while others leave you waiting.

Try an example

In C major, G–C is a authentic cadence: it comes home. C–G is half: it ends away from home. F–C is plagal. G–A minor is deceptive: it takes an unexpected turn.

Easy to mix up

Listen past the lead-in to the final two chords. A pause alone does not tell you the answer. The key changes, so listen for how the ending works.

A tip for your next go

Start with authentic and half. Then add plagal and deceptive before trying the mix of major and minor keys.