I - ii - V

Also known as the half cadence.

A phrase that ends on the dominant instead of the tonic, unfinished on purpose. It asks a question the next phrase has to answer, which is why verses so often hand over to choruses this way.

Hear it in different keys

In C major

I C iim Dm V G

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In G major

I G iim Am V D

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Each key above has a MIDI download with every chord played back to back, ready to drop into any DAW or notation program.

Roman numerals show scale degree and quality: uppercase for major, lowercase for minor, a small circle for diminished. Tap any chord above to open its full page, with a diagram and playback.