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plagal cadence
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Cadences typically used in Western music from the 17th through the 21st century.
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plagal cadence

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Cadences typically used in Western music from the 17th through the 21st century.
Cadences typically used in Western music from the 17th through the 21st century.

A plagal cadence is a musical cadence where subdominant harmony resolves to the tonic. This is also known as an "Amen cadence". In music, a cadence marks the end of a phrase, section, or movement, often involving a rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic change.12

There are four main types of harmonic cadences: authentic, half, plagal, and deceptive. A plagal cadence specifically involves the subdominant (IV) triad leading to the tonic (I) triad. This type of cadence is often used as an extension to an authentic cadence and is famously heard at the end of hymns in Christian churches, following the IV-I progression.2

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  1. plagal cadence
  2. cadence
  3. chord progression

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