Plagal cadence
DEFINITION
A chord progression where the subdominant chord is followed by the tonic chord (IV-I). The "IV" represents the chord based on the fourth step of the scale and the " I" represents the chord based on the first step of the scale. The subdominant to tonic progression (IV-I) is also known as an "Amen cadence" or "Church Cadence" because it is sung to the word Amen at the end of Protestant hymns. In the tonality of "C" major, a plagal cadence would be the subdominant (IV) F major chord (F- A- C) moving to the tonic (I) C major chord ( C- E- G). Also, Amen Cadence, Church Cadence.