Major Andalusian CadenceChord progression · I – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7
Spanish feel with a major tonic — descending roots land on V7.
In C major
Why the Major Andalusian Cadence progression works
The Spanish descent with a major home. The roots walk down I, bVII, bVI and land on V7. The two borrowed flat chords darken the major key before the major V7 brings the light back.
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How to play Major Andalusian Cadence in C major
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.
Major 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 Major Andalusian Cadence
Over the whole progression in C major: C Major, C Major pentatonic. To follow every chord, switch to the scale the progression builder picks for it.
| Chord | Scale over it |
|---|---|
| I · C | C Major |
| ♭VII · B♭ | B♭ Lydian |
| ♭VI · A♭ | A♭ Lydian ♯2 |
| V7 · G7 | G Mixolydian |
Major Andalusian Cadence questions
What are the chords of the Major Andalusian Cadence?
I – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7. In C major that is C, B♭, A♭, G7; in G major it is G, F, E♭, D7.
What scale do you play over the Major Andalusian Cadence?
C Major and C Major pentatonic fit the whole progression in C major. Chord by chord: C Major over C, B♭ Lydian over B♭, A♭ Lydian ♯2 over A♭, G Mixolydian over G7.
How do you play the Major 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.