Andalusian CadenceChord progression · i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7
The Andalusian cadence — roots descend stepwise to a V7 landing.
In A minor
Why the Andalusian Cadence progression works
The roots walk down step by step, home to bVII to bVI, and land on the V7. A stepwise descending bass over a major V gives it the flamenco ring.
Songs built on it, each in its own key:
- Hit the Road Jack
- Runaway
- Sultans of Swing
Heard in: Classic rockHard rockMetalPopFolkClassical
How to play Andalusian Cadence in A minor
One voicing per chord, each the nearest to the chord before, so your hand stays in one spot. Open any chord in the chord library for every other way to play it.
Andalusian Cadence chords in all 12 keys
The same numerals in every key. Each chord opens in the chord library, and each key plays in the progression builder.
What scale to play over Andalusian Cadence
Over the whole progression in A minor: A Natural minor, A Minor pentatonic, A Harmonic minor. To follow every chord, switch to the scale the progression builder picks for it.
| Chord | Scale over it |
|---|---|
| i · Am | A Natural minor |
| ♭VII · G | G Mixolydian |
| ♭VI · F | F Lydian |
| V7 · E7 | E Phrygian dominant |
Andalusian Cadence questions
What are the chords of the Andalusian Cadence?
i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7. In A minor that is Am, G, F, E7; in E minor it is Em, D, C, B7.
Which songs use the Andalusian Cadence?
Hit the Road Jack, Runaway and Sultans of Swing, each in its own key.
What scale do you play over the Andalusian Cadence?
A Natural minor, A Minor pentatonic and A Harmonic minor fit the whole progression in A minor. Chord by chord: A Natural minor over Am, G Mixolydian over G, F Lydian over F, E Phrygian dominant over E7.
How do you play the Andalusian Cadence in another key?
Keep the numerals and move every chord by the same distance. The table on this page spells it in all 12 keys, and each key opens in the progression builder.