Quick Win #30

9 Ways to Resolve a 4+4 to a Triad

Here's a quick summary of the main takeaways from this Quick Win!

  • you can grab any two notes from the 4+4 and move them one chromatic step up, and it will always get you to a different triad
  • you can also grab just one voice of the 4+4 and move it down chromatically; this enables three new triads to move into
  • lastly, you can always use the authentic cadence to resolve the 4+4

Advice

Most composers tend to go to the authentic cadence as a resolution. It sounds good, but it's a cliché and overused. Instead, you might want to bring in a healthy dose of 'chromatic harmony' and create a more exciting result for the listener.