For section C in the Aural part of Grade 7 you have to identify the cadence played by the examiner as perfect, imperfect or interrupted. Okay, so I can tell the difference between the 3 so identifying them is not a problem. However, you then have to go on and name the chords that make up the cadence.

For the perfect cadence it will either be dominant followed by tonic or dominant 7th followed by the tonic. Does anyone know how to tell the difference between dominant and dominant 7th just by hearing them? I have heard both types and I cannot tell much of a difference.

Secondly, if the examiner plays an imperfect cadence you then have to go on and name the chords that make up this. I know the imperfect cadence always ends on the dominant but for grade 7 the dominant may be preceded by one of 3 chords, namely subdominant, tonic or tonic 2nd inversion. Again, does anyone know how to differentiate between these 3 just by hearing them?

for the dominant 7th one, it sounds like it wants to go somewhere, even when it's played by itself.
For the imperfect, IV - V the bass will probably move a tone up, I-V there's a "big" jump in the bass and for the Ic-V the bass (hopefully) won't move.
I was planning on doing it that way in my exam a few weeks ago, but the examiner hammered out the chords on the piano (it was an imperfect cadence) so I couldn't hear the bass line, something I find hard anyway! So maybe don't rely on that completely like I did?!

You just get used to them. Just practice. Do you play piano? If so, go through your pieces and identify all the cadences and just listen.

Any good?

I find hymn music good for this - the cadences are really really obvious most of the time so you get used to the sound of them.
Cat

QUOTE

for the Ic-V the bass (hopefully) won't move.

It might move up or down an octave.

Hi Shelton,

I posted a question a little bit like this one a few weeks ago, and various people helpfully referred me to the existence of software packages called "ear trainers". If you use that as a keyword to search general forum (more than 30 days ago) it should bring up the discussion with a few links to free ear trainers. Also if you do a google, other links will come up.

I took the 21 day free trial of Earmaster Pro 4, and liked it sufficiently to buy it. It's funny the problem you mention about the difference between Dominant and Dominant seventh, because a lot of the tests are the computer playing a chord or chord progression, and you have to guess which it is, and those are the two chords I found the most difficult to distinguish.

good luck!

David

Your teacher should be teaching you how to recognise chords - you shouldn't have to resort to asking people on the internet! What are you paying him/her for?