Andalusian Cadence

i–bVII–bVI–V · Descending tetrachord · Spanish progression · C minor · i–bVII–bVI–V

Andalusian Cadence is a chord pattern you can play in any key. The degrees are i–bVII–bVI–V.

A Spanish-flavoured cadence that tightens as the bass steps down one note at a time. Common in flamenco and rock ballads alike, with the tension peaking on the last chord.

Patterns are common chord moves. They are not the chart of a recorded hit.

Patterns are named by theory. Play them in any key that fits your voice.

Each song page has a chord chart, fingerings, and the same song in every key.

The pattern

i – bVII – bVI – V

Cm · Bb · Ab · G

Chord chart

Chord chart
1	Cm	Bb	Ab	G

How to sing it

The bass walks down a note at a time, so a melody that walks down with it gets lost. Stay in one place or climb against it and the tightening comes through. The last chord holds the most tension, so let one note out there.

In every key

In every key
Keys	Chord chart
C minor · Written in this key	Cm · Bb · Ab · G
Db minor	C#m · B · A · G#
D minor	Dm · C · Bb · A
Eb minor	D#m · C# · B · A#
E minor	Em · D · C · B
F minor	Fm · Eb · Db · C
F# minor	F#m · E · D · C#
G minor	Gm · F · Eb · D
Ab minor	G#m · F# · E · D#
A minor	Am · G · F · E
Bb minor	Bbm · Ab · Gb · F
B minor	Bm · A · G · F#

Heard in

Hit the Road Jack · Ray Charles. Am–G–F–E in A minor for the whole song. The closest match to this pattern.
Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits. The same descent moved to D minor (Dm–C–B♭–A), used in the verses only. The choruses and the long guitar solos move to other progressions.
Stray Cat Strut · Stray Cats. The verse uses this descent and the chorus repeats it in another key. Only the verse matches as one block.
Runaway · Del Shannon. Heard in the verse only; the chorus is a different progression. A 1961 song that may be familiar from films and adverts.

These songs use this pattern. This is not their chord chart: real recordings differ in key, rhythm and the chords they add.

Public-domain songs with this pattern

El Condor Pasa