A plagal cadence is not quite so decisive as a perfect cadence because you do not hear the leading note (7th note of the scale) in chord IV. Instead it is more helpful to listen to lots of examples and remember the sound. It often used to be described as the sound of 'Amen' in Christian religious music, but this is not much help if you don't sing or listen to that kind of music! In the key of C minor – the subdominant chord, F minor followed by the tonic chord, C minor.Ī plagal cadence sounds as if the music has finished.In the key of C major – the subdominant chord, F major followed by the tonic chord, C major.What is a plagal cadence?Ī plagal cadence is chord IV followed by chord I, for example: You will listen to the next phrase in the 8A piece, say what cadence it ends with and then name the last three chords.Ĭadence recognition at Grades 6 and 7 included just perfect, imperfect and interrupted so this is the first time you might have to identify a plagal cadence. It is quite easy to hear the long bass notes in the instrumentation of this recording – practise singing those notes as you listen. You can do this with almost any kind of music but you may find it much easier to hear an underneath part when it is played by a different instrument, such as in the example here, Roar sung by Katy Perry. When you listen to music, begin to focus on the accompanying parts much more.
However, like most skills, hearing a lower part becomes easier with practice. Given a choice, we tend to focus on the higher notes rather than lower ones and, generally, we are more used to listening to a higher melody with a lower accompanying part. If you choose to play instead of sing, the examiner will, of course, tell you the key chord and starting note for your instrument. You also have the choice of playing the lowest part on your instrument.
You may sing any sound, such as 'Lah lah' or you could hum or whistle if you prefer. You have to follow the lowest part and then repeat it, like an echo. Listen carefully to these because a feel for the pulse and tonality will help you to remember the lowest part. You will hear a key chord and then a two–bar count–in, for example 'One, two, One, two' or One, two, three, One, two, three'. 8A – Repeat the lowest part of a three part melody, played twice Note: The Grade 8 ABRSM aural tests are very similar in concept to the Grade 7 aural tests, but need slightly more advanced musical skills.