How to make chord progressions feel complete (or leave them hanging)
Hey music makers!
Been playing with some old favorites lately and found myself smiling at those perfect moments when chords just land in all the right places. That’s the magic of cadences — music’s built-in punctuation that turns simple progressions into emotional journeys.
Let’s explore these musical signposts together.
Real Song. Real Progression.
💿 "7 Summers" by Morgan Wallen
Break it down:
Key: C Major
Chord Progressions:
Verse: Ima9 → IVma9
(Cma9 → Fma9)
Chorus: ii7 → V7 → Ima9 → vi7 and ii7 → V7
(Dm7 → G7 → Cma9 → Am7) and (Dm7 → G7)
Why it works: Morgan Wallen's 7 Summers demonstrates emotional contrast through chord progression design.
The verse creates a nostalgic, floating feel with just two chords (Ima9 → IVma9) perfect for storytelling.
The chorus introduces forward motion with a classic ii–V–I–vi progression. This creates a cycle that repeats three times, with the vi chord leading back to ii each time, then ends with ii–V to perfectly set up the verse's return to I.
The vi chord (Am7) extends the emotional journey by leading back to the ii chord (Dm7), creating continuous forward motion rather than final resolution.
Then the chorus ends with a ii–V that perfectly sets up the verse's return to the I chord.
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🧠 Term of the Week: Cadence
A cadence is how you end a musical sentence.
Just like punctuation tells you when a thought is complete, cadences tell your ear when a musical phrase is wrapping up.
There are a few common types:
Perfect cadence (V → I): The strongest resolution, like a period. Creates that "we're home" feeling.
Plagal cadence (IV → I): The "Amen" cadence. Smooth and soulful.
Half cadence (I → V): Creates an 'unfinished' feeling that demands continuation, like ending a sentence with a comma instead of a period.
Deceptive cadence (V → vi): A musical plot twist, moves to vi instead of I. Creates surprise while sharing notes with the expected tonic.
In real songs, cadences control the emotional pacing, when to build tension, when to release it, and when to surprise your listener.
🎯 Challenge for the Week
Build Your Cadence Toolkit
Record yourself playing C → F → C → F in a steady rhythm
Now record Dm → G → C → Am at the same tempo
Listen back to both recordings back-to-back
In your notes, write down the emotional difference you hear between the "floating" verse and the "landing" chorus
Level up: Experiment with other cadences (plagal, imperfect, deceptive), try different rhythms, or add a borrowed chord from last week's issue for unexpected color!
"Some progressions feel complete, others feel... unfinished. Why?" my student asked in a 1:1 harmony coaching call.
"Keys create a center of gravity," I explained. "Cadences are how we control the emotional pull toward or away from that center."
She thought for a moment. "So composers are just manipulating our emotions with math?"
I smiled. "They're telling stories. Understanding cadences lets you write those stories yourself."
That reframing sparked something. Suddenly, voice leading, circle of fifths, and even chord voicings weren't technical obstacles—they were storytelling tools.
"I've been looking at the individual trees," she realized, "when I should've been seeing the emotional forest they create."
✉️ That's a wrap
What's your go-to chord progression for ending a song section — and does it feel like a period, comma, or question mark to you?
Drop me a line at mel@melvindarrell.com and let me know — I read every response.
See you next week. Melvin ✌🏾
