The cadence in the chord progression above is

This question tests the ability to identify the type of cadence in a given chord progression. A cadence is a harmonic progression of at least two chords that ends a musical phrase, section, or piece. The four standard cadences tested at this level are: perfect (V-I), imperfect (ending on V), plagal (IV-I), and deceptive (V-vi).

The chord progression is written on a grand staff in the key of B-flat major (two flats in the key signature: B-flat and E-flat). Reading the notes in the bass and treble clefs together, the progression moves through chords built on scale degrees of B-flat major and ends on the dominant chord (chord V), which is F major (F-A-C).

Any cadence that ends on the dominant chord (V), regardless of the chord that precedes it, is classified as an imperfect cadence (also called a half cadence). The defining feature is that the phrase comes to rest on V rather than resolving to the tonic. This gives the listener a sense of incompleteness, as though the music is pausing mid-sentence and expecting something more to follow.

The other cadence types can be ruled out:

• A perfect cadence moves from V to I, ending on the tonic chord (B-flat major). The progression here does not end on the tonic.
• A plagal cadence moves from IV to I, also ending on the tonic. Again, the final chord here is not the tonic.
• A deceptive cadence moves from V to vi (or another unexpected chord that is not the tonic). Here the final chord is V itself, not a resolution away from V.

Since the progression ends on the dominant chord (V) without resolving to the tonic, the cadence is imperfect.

When identifying cadences in an exam, always look at the last two chords of the progression and determine their scale degrees. If the final chord is the dominant (V), the cadence is imperfect, no matter which chord precedes it.