Chords & Harmony

A dominant seventh chord is a four‑note harmony built on the fifth degree of a scale, consisting of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. It creates strong tension that typically resolves to the tonic chord.

A cadence is a harmonic or melodic ending that signals closure, pause, or continuation in a piece of music. It is a core concept in Western tonal theory, shaping the direction and emotional impact of phrases and sections.

An arpeggio is a musical figure in which the notes of a chord are played in succession rather than simultaneously. It is a fundamental technique across many styles, from classical to jazz, and appears in both melodic and harmonic contexts.

A minor seventh chord is a four‑note harmony built from a root, a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh. It appears in many musical styles and serves both as a tonal color and a functional chord in progressions.

A half cadence is a musical phrase that ends on a relatively unstable chord, usually the dominant, creating a sense of continuation rather than closure. It is a fundamental tool in Western tonal harmony for shaping musical direction.

A triad is a three‑note chord built from stacked thirds, forming the basic harmonic unit in Western music. Its quality—major, minor, diminished, or augmented—determines its emotional character and functional role within a key.

A deceptive cadence is a harmonic progression that subverts the expected resolution from the dominant chord to the tonic, typically moving to the vi chord instead. It creates surprise and prolongs tension, and is a staple of tonal music from the Baroque era to contemporary pop.

A chord inversion rearranges the order of notes so that a note other than the root occupies the lowest pitch. This technique is fundamental to voice leading, harmonic variety, and bass‑line movement across many musical styles.

A major seventh chord is a four‑note harmony built from a major triad plus a major seventh interval above the root. It is common in jazz, pop, and classical music for its lush, slightly tense sound.

A plagal cadence is a harmonic progression that moves from the subdominant (IV) to the tonic (I) chord, often heard at the end of hymns and folk songs. It creates a softer, more gentle resolution than the dominant‑tonic authentic cadence.