Phrygian Half Cadence (iv/b6 V)
The Phrygian half cadence is the chord progression iv/b6-V. In the key of C minor it is Fm/Ab G, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 4m/b6 5.
It is also known as Phrygian cadence.
Chords from outside the key of C minor: G.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
In a minor key, iv in first inversion moves to V, so the bass falls a half step from b6 to 5 while the top voice rises to meet it. That half step in the bass is the same move as the Phrygian mode's closing step, hence the name. The phrase stops on an open, old-sounding question, and Baroque composers often used it to link slow and fast movements.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, second movement | J. S. Bach | the whole movement is these two chords | Am/C B | E minor |
| Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind (chorale) | J. S. Bach | last two chords of the excerpt | Am/C B | E minor |
| Die Mainacht | Franz Schubert | mm. 1-10 | iv6 V |
Phrygian Half Cadence: 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.
More progressions like this one
- Cadential six-four: Dm C/G G C
- Romanesca: Eb Bb Cm G Eb Bb Cm G Cm
- Neapolitan sixth: Cm Db/F G Cm
- Neapolitan in major: C Db G C
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the Phrygian half cadence in each key?
In C minor: Fm/Ab G. In G minor: Cm/Eb D. In D minor: Gm/Bb A. In A minor: Dm/F E. In E minor: Am/C B.
Which songs use the Phrygian half cadence?
Songs that use it include Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, second movement by J. S. Bach, Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind (chorale) by J. S. Bach, Die Mainacht by Franz Schubert.
