Chord Progression
The Andalusian Cadence
i – VII – VI – V
The dramatic flamenco descent — four steps down to a blazing major V.
Key
The chords in A Minor
4 shapes to learn — tap any diagram to hear it on guitar or piano.
How it works
A stepwise descent — i, VII, VI, V — where the bass walks down four notes of the minor scale. Despite the name it appears far beyond flamenco, from classical to surf rock to hip-hop.
The signature move is the final chord. The diatonic v of a minor key is itself minor, but here it is raised to a major V, borrowing the leading tone from harmonic minor. That major chord blazes against the descent and pulls hard back to the minor i.
That one raised third is the whole drama of the cadence — the sound of Spanish guitar in a single chord change.
Songs built on it
A few well-known examples — every one of them the same chords, moving in the same order.
- Hit the Road Jack— Ray Charles
- Sultans of Swing— Dire Straits
- Runaway— Del Shannon
i – VII – VI – V in every key
The same numerals, twelve different sets of letters. Tap a key to explore all its chords.