Flamenco · Beginner · minor key
Andalusian cadence
i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V — Four chords stepping down to a dramatic major V. Flamenco, surf rock and 60s pop all use it.
Chord shapes in E minor (standard tuning)
Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.
How the chords work
Written in Roman numerals, this progression is i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V — in A minor that is Am – G – F – E. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home chord.
- ♭VII — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
- ♭VI — a major chord borrowed from the minor key: epic and dramatic.
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
Andalusian cadence in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmGFE | Looper |
| E minor | EmDCB | Looper |
| B minor | BmAGF# | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mEDC# | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mBAG# | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mGbED# | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmDbBBb | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmAbGbF | Looper |
| F minor | FmEbDbC | Looper |
| C minor | CmBbAbG | Looper |
| G minor | GmFEbD | Looper |
| D minor | DmCBbA | Looper |
Songs that use it
- Hit the Road Jack — Ray Charles
- Runaway — Del Shannon
- Walk Don't Run — The Ventures
Song examples use this progression (or a very close variant) in at least one main section; keys and voicings differ.
Practice ideas
- Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
- Change keys with a capo: keep the E minor shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
- Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the E minor pentatonic or E natural minor or E blues scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
- Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.
Similar progressions
- i–♭VII–♭VIsus2–V i – ♭VII – ♭VIsus2 – V
- Minor circle of fifths i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i
- Descending lament (i–♭VII–♭VI–V) i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7
- Minor ii–V–i chain ("Autumn Leaves") iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i
- "Hotel California" progression i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V
- Epic minor (i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII) i – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII
← I–iv6 (wistful minor IV) · Minor-key axis (i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII) →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V progression?
In E minor: Em – D – C – B. In C major / A minor: Am – G – F – E. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.
What songs use the andalusian cadence?
For example: Hit the Road Jack — Ray Charles; Runaway — Del Shannon; Walk Don't Run — The Ventures.