What does Imperfect cadence mean in music?

Imperfect cadence means "Any chord → V — sounds unfinished".

What type of musical term is Imperfect cadence?

Imperfect cadence is a theory concepts term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the theory concepts word list.

What grade is Imperfect cadence tested in?

Imperfect cadence first appears at Grade 4 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Music theory · Musical terms · Theory concepts

Imperfect cadence — meaning in music

Imperfect cadence is a musical term meaning Any chord → V — sounds unfinished. It is a theory concepts marking, first tested at Grade 4 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

Any chord → V — sounds unfinished

Theory conceptsFirst tested: Grade 4

Translations

French	N'importe quel accord → V — semble inachevé
German	Jeder Akkord → V – klingt unvollendet
Italian	Qualsiasi accordo → V — suona incompiuto
Spanish	Cualquier acorde → V — suena inacabado
Chinese	任意和弦 → V — 听起来未完成

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All theory concepts terms

Allemande Alto range Anacrusis Answer phrase Arco Bar line Bass clef Bass range Binary form Bourrée Cello clef Cello range Chromatic semitone Compound interval Courante Crotchet (US name)Demisemiquaver Diatonic semitone Dominant Dominant (degree)Double bar line Double bass clef Double flat (𝄫)Double sharp (𝄪)Doubling rule Duplet Final bar line Flat Gavotte Gigue Harmonic minor scale Imperfect cadence Interrupted cadence Inversion of a 3rd Inversion of a 4th Inversion of a 5th Leading note Leger line Mediant Melodic minor scale (ascending)Melodic minor scale (descending)Minim (US name)Minuet Modulate to the dominant Modulate to the relative minor Modulation Natural Natural minor scale Parallel 5ths Parallel 8ves Perfect cadence Pivot chord Pizzicato Plagal cadence Quaver (US name)Question phrase Real sequence Relative minor of C major Relative minor of F major Relative minor of G major Repeat sign Sarabande Semibreve (US name)Semiquaver (US name)Semitone Sequence Sharp Slur Soprano range Stave (staff)Subdominant Subdominant (degree)Submediant Supertonic Tenor range Ternary form Tie Tonal sequence Tone Tonic Tonic (degree)Treble clef Triplet Viola clef Viola range Violin clef Violin range Voice crossing Voice overlap