Other Cadences

This page includes cadences that are more commonly found outside of common-practice Western art music.

Cadences with IV

Plagal IV - I: See the page Cadences: AC, HC, PL, DC

Plagal Sigh: IV - iv - I, IV - iv

Ending on IV

IV/5 ("Sus")

Cadences with ♭VII

Half Cadence: ♭VII - V

Cadences with IV

Plagal IV - I: See the page Cadences: AC, HC, PL, DC

Plagal Sigh: IV - iv - I, IV - iv

1) Christina Perri, “Jar of Hearts,” chorus
From Lovestrong (2011)

Audio: Youtube (0:40 - 1:08)

D A

And who do you think you are?

Bm

Running 'round leaving scars

G

Collecting your jar of hearts

Gm D

Tearing love apart

A

You're gonna catch a cold

Bm

From the ice inside your soul

G

Don't come back for me

Gm D

Who do you think you are?

2) Green Day, "Wake Me Up When September Ends," verse, mm. 5–20

From American Idiot (2004), words and music by Billie Joe Armstrong

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:52–2:27)

3) Benson Boone, "In the Stars," chorus, mm. 25–28

Single (2022), words and music by Michael Pollack, Jason Evigan, and Benson Boone

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:16–1:22)

4) Phish, "Waste," Prechorus

From Billy Breathes (1996), written by Tom Marshall & Trey Anastasio.

Audio: Youtube (0:39–0:53)

G Gm D

I dream it's true

G Gm D

But I'd see it through

5) The Flaming Lips, "Waste," Prechorus

From Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002), written by Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, Michael Ivins & Dave Fridmann

Audio: Youtube (1:02–1:23)

C Em Am F Fm C

Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?

6) Lana Del Rey, "Get Free," verse

From Lust for Life (2017), written by Kieron Menzies, Rick Nowels & Lana Del Rey

Audio: Youtube (0:02–0:46)

B♭ D

Finally, I'm crossing the threshold

E♭ E♭m

From the ordinary world, to the reveal of my heart

B♭ D

Undoubtedly, that will for certain

E♭ E♭m

Take the dead out of the sea, and the darkness from the arts

7) Aerosmith, "Crazy," chorus, mm. 14–16

From Get a Grip (1992), words and music by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:02–1:22)

8) The Contours, "Do You Love Me?," chorus, mm. 12–16

Single (1962), words and music by Berry Gordy, Jr.

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:22–0:34)

9) David Bowie, "Space Oddity" (chorus)

From David Bowie (a.k.a. Space Oddity) (1969)

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (1:22–2:11)

10) Radiohead, "Creep," verse

From Pablo Honey (1993), written by Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Philip Selway, Ed O’Brien, Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood & Radiohead

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:17–0:58)

11) Brandie Carlile, “The Joke,” chorus

From By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), written by Tim Hanseroth, Phil Hanseroth, Dave Cobb & Brandi Carlile.

Audio: Youtube (1:24–1:55)
Harmonic Rhythm: |D | Am | G | Gm |
| D | F# | G | Gm | D |

D Am7

Let 'em laugh while they can

G Gm D

Let 'em spin, let 'em scatter in the wind

F# G

I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends

Gm D

And the joke's on them

12) Ariana Grande, “My Everything,” intro and verse

From By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), written by Tim Hanseroth, Phil Hanseroth, Dave Cobb & Brandi Carlile.

Audio: Youtube (0:00–0:23)
Note: The same chord progression repeats throughout the song.

[ G G7/F C Cm6 ]

G G7/F

I cried enough tears

C Cm6

To see my own reflection in them

G G7/F

And then it was clear

C Cm6

I can't deny, I really miss him

13) Death Cab for Cutie, “I Will Follow You into the Dark,” chorus

From Plans, written by Ben Gibbard

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:49–1:14)

14) Bruno Mars, “When I Was Your Man,” chorus

From Unorthodox Jukebox (2013), written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Andrew Wyatt

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:01–1:29)

Ending on IV

Temperley's "Deceptive IV"

The Wallflowers, “One Headlight”
From Bringing Down the Horse (1997), written by Jakob Dylan

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:29-1:45)

Alice in Chains, “No Excuses” (chorus)
From Jar of Flies (1994), written by Jerry Cantrell

Student Copies: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:57–1:16)

IV/5 ("Sus")

This chord has a lot of names: "pop dominant," "soul dominant," V9sus, V11, or "Sus" chord.

1) Marvin Gaye, “What's Going On,” verse 1
From What's Going On? (1970)

Audio: Youtube (0:10 - 0:41)

EMaj7

Mother, mother

C#m7

There's too many of you crying

EMaj7

Brother, brother, brother

C#m7

There's far too many of you dying

F#m7

You know we've got to find a way

A/B B7

To bring some loving here today, yeah

2) Vanessa Williams, "Colors of the Wind," chorus

Written by Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz. From the film Pocahontas (1995)

Scores: PDF, Image, Musescore
Audio: Youtube (1:09–1:38)

3) The Everly Brothers, "All I Have to Do Is Dream," bridge, mm. 19–26

Single (1958), words and music by Boudleaux Bryant

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:48–1:06)

4) Adele, "Make You Feel My Love," verse, mm. 9–16

From 19 (2008), words and music by Bob Dylan

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:34–1:03)

5) Alan Menken, "Beauty and the Beast"
From the film Beauty and the Beast. Lyrics by Howard Ashman. (1991)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:21–1:01)

6) Adele, "All I Ask," chorus, mm. 33–41

From 25 (2015), words and music by Adele Adkins, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, and Chris Brown

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (2:40–2:56)

7) Billy Joel, "And So It Goes," verse

From Storm Front (1989), words and music by Billy Joel.

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:24–0:51)

8) Billy Joel, "New York State of Mind," verse

From Turnstiles (1976)

Student Copies: MuseScore, Image
Audio: Youtube (0:55-1:31)

9) The Impressions, "People Get Ready" (chorus)

From People Get Ready (1965), written by Curtis Mayfield.

Audio: Youtube (0:47–1:14)

Db Bbm Gb/Ab Db

So people get ready, for the train to Jordan

Db Bbm Gb/Ab Db

Picking up passengers, coast to coast

Db Bbm Gb/Ab Db

Faith is the key, open the doors and board em

Fm7 Ebm7 Gb/Ab Db

There’s hope for all, among those loved the most

10) Billy Joel, "Just the Way You Are" (verse)

From Stranger (1977)

Student Copies: MuseScore | PDF | Image
Audio: Youtube (0:08–0:35)

11) Billy Joel, "Just the Way You Are" (refrain)

From Stranger (1977)

Student Copies: MuseScore | PDF | Image
Audio: Youtube (0:49–1:03)

12) Cole Porter, "Begin the Beguine," mm. 1–16
From the musical Jubilee (1935)

Score: Image File
Audio: Youtube (0:15–0:47)

13) Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror" (chorus)

From Bad (1987), written by Glen Ballard & Siedah Garrett

Audio: Youtube (2:33–2:50)

G G/B C C/D

I'm starting with the man in the mirror

G G/B C C/D

I'm asking him to change his ways

14) Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile,” chorus

Single (2024), words and music by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, James Fauntleroy, D’Mile & watt

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube: 0:44–1:24

Cadences with ♭VII

1) Beatles, "With a Little Help from My Friends," intro

From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:00–0:07)

2) Jerry Goldsmith, Universal Studios Fanfare Theme

(1997) Arranged by Dominik Hauser.

Score: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:00–0:22)

3) Guns n’ Roses, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (chorus)
From Appetite for Destruction (1987), written by Steven Adler, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin, Axl Rose & Slash

Audio: Youtube (0:59–1:16)

A C D
Whoa oh, sweet child o' mine

A C D
Whoa, oh, oh, oh sweet love o' mine

4) Koji Kondo, "Overworld Theme," from Super Mario Bros.
From the video game, Super Mario Bros. (1985), mm. 7–14

Score: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:12–0:22)

5) Klaus Badelt, "He's a Pirate"
From the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Score: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:04–0:11)

6) R.E.M., "Losing My Religion" (bridge)

From Out of Time (1991), written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe

Audio: Youtube (1:32–1:49)

G F

I thought that I heard you laughing,

Dm G Am

I thought that I heard you sing.

Am F Dm G Am

I think I thought I saw you try.

7) ABBA, "S.O.S." (chorus)
From ABBA (1975), written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:57–1:15)

8) Simon & Garfunkel, "Sound of Silence" (verse)

From Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964), written by Paul Simon.

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:02–0:37)

9) Kansas, "Dust in the Wind" (chorus)
From Point of Know Return (1977), written by Kerry Livgren.

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:40–0:52)

10) Elliot Smith, “Satellite” (chorus)
From Elliot Smith (1995), written by Elliot Smith

Audio: Youtube (1:53–2:13)

G7 Cadd2 D Cmaj9 G
A burned-out. world you know

G7 Cadd2 D
Staying up all night

G7 Cadd2 D5
The satellite

11) Billy Joel, "She's Got a Way" (final phrase)
From Cold Spring Harbor (1971)

Student Copies: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (2:31–2:52)

12) Harry T. Burleigh, No. 1, "Through Moanin' Pines"
From Piano Sketches: From the Southland (1916)

Student Copies: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:02–0:30)
Note: Focus on the first phrase only.

13) John Williams, "Superman Fanfare"
From the film Superman (1978)

Instructor Copies: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Student Copies: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:20–0:32)

14) John Williams, "Ewok Celebration"
From the film Return of the Jedi (1983)

Student Copies: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (1:09-1:15)

15) John Williams, "When You're Alone"
From the film Hook (1991)

Student Copies: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:18-0:36)

Half Cadence: ♭VII - V

Prince, "When Doves Cry" (chorus)

From Purple Rain (1984)

Audio: Youtube (1:04-1:36)

Am Dm/A

How can you just leave me standing

G E7

Alone in a world that's so cold? (So cold)

Am Dm/A

Maybe I'm just too demanding

G E7

Maybe I'm just like my father, too bold

Am Dm/A

Maybe you're just like my mother

G E7

She's never satisfied (she's never satisfied)

Am Dm/A

Why do we scream at each other?

G E7

This is what it sounds like when doves cry.

Ending on ♭VII

Nightwish, “Amaranth,” chorus

From Dark Passion Play (2007), written by Tuomas Holopainen

Audio: Youtube (1:11-1:27)

Dm B♭ F C Dm

Caress the one, the Never-Fading rain in your heart

B♭ F C

The tears of snow-white sorrow

Dm B♭ F

Caress the one, the hiding amaranth

C B♭ E♭

In a land of the daybreak

Cadences with ♭III

Joss Whedon, Title Theme from the TV series Firefly, mm. 17–21

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:35–0:52)

Cadences with ♭II

Koji Kondo, "Overworld Theme," from Super Mario Bros.
From the video game, Super Mario Bros. (1985), mm. 43–53

Score: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:52 - 1:11)

John Williams, "Han Solo and the Princess," main theme
From the film The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Student Copies: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:58-1:12)

More Examples

Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Cadences
Diverse Music Theory Examples: Cadences
Music By Women: Explore the Database (Click on the Cadence Filter on the left and search by category.)
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Cadences" tab at the bottom.