Which cadence typically ends on the dominant (V) chord, creating a resting point that feels incomplete?

• A. Authentic cadence
• B. Plagal cadence
• C. Half cadence
• D. Deceptive cadence

Answer: (C)

A cadence that ends on the dominant creates a sense of anticipation rather than closure. When a phrase lands on the dominant chord, the harmony carries noticeable tension that yearns to resolve to the tonic, but the music stops there, leaving you waiting for the next move. This incomplete feeling is exactly what signals that more music is to come, keeping the narrative momentum going.

In practice, ending on the dominant is like placing a comma at the end of a musical sentence, inviting continuation. The dominant’s pull comes from its dominant-to-tonic tendency—the leading tone wants to resolve up to the tonic, which heightens the expectation for that upcoming resolution.

By comparison, an authentic cadence resolves to the tonic, delivering a clear sense of finish; a plagal cadence also ends on the tonic but with a softer, more conclusive feel; a deceptive cadence moves to a different chord (often the vi), which creates surprise but doesn’t reproduce the familiar dominant pause.