Picardy third

A Picardy third (/ˈpɪkərdi/; French: tierce picarde), also known as a Picardy cadence, is a major chord of the tonic at the end of a musical section that is either modal or in a minor key. This is achieved by raising the third of the expected minor triad by a semitone to create a major triad, as a form of resolution.

1. What is a Picardy third in music?
2. Why is Picardy third used?
3. What is the opposite of a Picardy third?
4. How do you write 3rd Picardy?

What is a Picardy third in music?

: the major third as introduced into the final chord of a musical composition written in a minor key.

Why is Picardy third used?

So what is a picardy third? A picardy third is a cadence used at the end of a minor key piece where it resolves to a major tonic chord instead. This is accomplished by raising the 3rd note of the chord by a semitone. The Picardy third is commonly used in Baroque and Renaissance-era music.

What is the opposite of a Picardy third?

Reverse Picardy Third

The "reverse" Picardy third, where an expected major chord is replaced by its minor equivalent, is almost never used at the end of a work - an example of this rarity is in Mendelssohn's Characteristic Piece Op.

How do you write 3rd Picardy?

A Picardy Third (or Tierce de Picardie) is where a major chord is written as the final chord of a piece that has mostly been in the minor key. This is achieved very simply by raising the minor 3rd of the expected minor chord by a semitone to create a major 3rd.