This is the one topic of Grade 5 theory that I can't get to grips with. Can anyone please talk me through what goes through their head as they work out one of these questions? The ones usually near the end of the paper where they ask you to write in suitable chord cadences for an extract. I usually write (or try to write them) in the form of a roman numeral and a letter, not on the stave or as a key.
Violin123
Full Version: Grade 5 Theory - Cadences?
This is the method I teach my students:
There are certain chord sequences that come up commonly at cadences, so your answer needs to fit one of these:
V - I
IV - I
I - V
IV - V - I
II - V - I
IV - I - V
etc
Work out the key of the extract, then write out the notes of the main chords for the key
eg for C major
I = C E G
II = D F A
IV = F A C
V = G B D
Look at the melody notes at the cadence, and pick a chord that has that melody note in. Sometimes you will have a choice of two chords that fit the note - in which case, pick a combination that fits one of the common cadential chord sequences as detailed above.
Hope this helps....
There are certain chord sequences that come up commonly at cadences, so your answer needs to fit one of these:
V - I
IV - I
I - V
IV - V - I
II - V - I
IV - I - V
etc
Work out the key of the extract, then write out the notes of the main chords for the key
eg for C major
I = C E G
II = D F A
IV = F A C
V = G B D
Look at the melody notes at the cadence, and pick a chord that has that melody note in. Sometimes you will have a choice of two chords that fit the note - in which case, pick a combination that fits one of the common cadential chord sequences as detailed above.
Hope this helps....
QUOTE(SueHM @ Jun 4 2010, 06:55 PM) 
This is the method I teach my students:
There are certain chord sequences that come up commonly at cadences, so your answer needs to fit one of these:
V - I
IV - I
I - V
IV - V - I
II - V - I
IV - I - V
etc
Work out the key of the extract, then write out the notes of the main chords for the key
eg for C major
I = C E G
II = D F A
IV = F A C
V = G B D
Look at the melody notes at the cadence, and pick a chord that has that melody note in. Sometimes you will have a choice of two chords that fit the note - in which case, pick a combination that fits one of the common cadential chord sequences as detailed above.
Hope this helps....
The tip about laying it out/writing it down has helped! Thanks!
QUOTE(SueHM @ Jun 4 2010, 06:55 PM)
Look at the melody notes at the cadence, and pick a chord that has that melody note in. Sometimes you will have a choice of two chords that fit the note - in which case, pick a combination that fits one of the common cadential chord sequences as detailed above.
Incidentally, I haven't noticed an example in actual papers for ages where there are two possible answers, though the workbooks do contain such examples.
I tend not to focus on the 'cadence' element of the question with students, and just say to find the right chords to fit the melody (using exactly your method), knowing that the AB will have supplied a tune that will dictate the right cadences! It might sound like a small point, but "find the right chords to fit the tune..." sounds much less scary than "Select chords to provide appropriate cadences ...."
Agreed - I was describing my method rather than the actual words I might say to students!
When it comes to actually answering the question, does giving a roman numeral suffice? Or do you have to give the key as well? It's just that on the answer sheets it gives both and up until now I have only written the numeral...then again it is a bloomin long dotted line for just a roman numeral.... 
QUOTE(rabbit @ Jun 5 2010, 09:31 PM)
When it comes to actually answering the question, does giving a roman numeral suffice? Or do you have to give the key as well? It's just that on the answer sheets it gives both and up until now I have only written the numeral...then again it is a bloomin long dotted line for just a roman numeral....
I think it's OK to just do the numeral, but i'm not totally sure
QUOTE(violin123 @ Jun 6 2010, 09:42 AM)
QUOTE(rabbit @ Jun 5 2010, 09:31 PM)
When it comes to actually answering the question, does giving a roman numeral suffice? Or do you have to give the key as well? It's just that on the answer sheets it gives both and up until now I have only written the numeral...then again it is a bloomin long dotted line for just a roman numeral....
I think it's OK to just do the numeral, but i'm not totally sure
Just the numeral is fine.
QUOTE(sbhoa @ Jun 6 2010, 01:00 PM)
QUOTE(violin123 @ Jun 6 2010, 09:42 AM)
QUOTE(rabbit @ Jun 5 2010, 09:31 PM)
When it comes to actually answering the question, does giving a roman numeral suffice? Or do you have to give the key as well? It's just that on the answer sheets it gives both and up until now I have only written the numeral...then again it is a bloomin long dotted line for just a roman numeral....
I think it's OK to just do the numeral, but i'm not totally sure
Just the numeral is fine.
Here it comes....one big, giant, mammouth.....PHEW!
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