Cadential Six-Four (ii I/5 V I)

The Cadential six-four is the chord progression ii-I/5-V-I. In the key of C major it is Dm C/G G C, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 2m 1/5 5 1.

It is also known as cadential 6/4.

Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E

Why it works

A tonic chord with its fifth in the bass sits on the dominant note, so it works as a V with two suspensions, not a real I. The sixth and fourth above the bass then fall by step into V. It adds weight just before the final V-I, and it is the classic signal of a concerto cadenza.

Songs that use it

These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.

Cadential Six-Four: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E

Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.

Key of C major

Dm

C/G

G

C

Key of G major

Am

G/D

D

G

Key of D major

Em

D/A

A

D

Key of A major

Bm

A/E

E

A

Key of E major

F#m

E/B

B

E

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