IV–iv–I

A plagal cadence enhanced by modal mixture, darkening the major IV to minor iv before resolving to the tonic. The chromatic lowering of the sixth scale degree creates a poignant, ♭ittersweet quality beloved by Romantic-era composers.

Pattern: IV – iv – I   Example in C Major: F – Fm – C

Genre: classical   Difficulty: intermediate

Choose a Key

C Major F – Fm – C G Major C – Cm – G D Major G – Gm – D A Major D – Dm – A E Major A – Am – E B Major E – Em – B F♯ Major B – Bm – F♯ F Major B♭ – Bbm – F B♭ Major E♭ – Ebm – B♭ E♭ Major A♭ – Abm – E♭ A♭ Major D♭ – Dbm – A♭ D♭ Major G♭ – Gbm – D♭

Song Examples