authentic cadence

In music, a cadence marks the end of a phrase, section, or movement, providing a sense of rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic conclusion. The term originates from the Latin word cadere, meaning "to fall".1

An authentic cadence is a fundamental type of musical ending where the dominant chord (V) resolves to the tonic chord (I). This V-I progression creates a strong sense of finality, similar to a period at the end of a sentence. The most conclusive form, the perfect cadence, involves specific melodic and bass line movements that reinforce the resolution to the tonic. Other cadences include the half cadence, which ends on a dominant chord creating unresolved tension, the plagal cadence (IV-I), often used for a gentler conclusion, and the deceptive cadence, which avoids the expected tonic resolution.12