The Andalusian cadence: i–VII–VI–V
The Andalusian cadence is four chords that step down a minor key, i–VII–VI–V: in A minor, Am, G, F and E. The last chord is major, not minor, so it pulls hard back to the top; named after the flamenco of Andalusia, it turns up in surf rock, pop and film music.
Hear it in any key, in five styles
- iAm
- VIIG
- VIF
- VE
Pick a key and the chord names change; pick a style and the drums, bass rhythm and chord rhythm change while the chords stay the same. The chords are Am, G, F, E, one bar each. The link in the address bar keeps your key and style.
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How it works
The bass walks down four steps, A, G, F, E, and the chords ride on top. Counted from the minor key, the numerals are i, VII, VI and V. Counted from the major key with the same first note (A major), the two middle chords are flat, so you will also see it written i–♭VII–♭VI–V.
The V is the trick. In a natural minor scale the fifth chord is minor (Em in A minor), but here it is major, E with a G♯. That one raised note sits a half step under the home note, so the end of the loop leans straight back into the start. The numeral is a capital V for exactly that reason.
Because it falls and then snaps back, it loops without ever settling, which suits a vamp: a verse that circles, a guitar line that spirals. In the styles below it turns moody in the lo-fi version, with E7♭9 at the bottom, and urgent in reggaeton.
The Andalusian cadence in every key
The numerals stay the same; only the letters change. Each row names the minor key the loop feels like, with its relative major in brackets. The highlighted row is the key playing above.
| Key | i | VII | VI | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A minor (C) | Am | G | F | E |
| E minor (G) | Em | D | C | B |
| B minor (D) | Bm | A | G | F# |
| F# minor (A) | F#m | E | D | C# |
| C# minor (E) | C#m | B | A | G# |
| G# minor (B) | G#m | F# | E | D# |
| D# minor (F#) | D#m | C# | B | A# |
| Bb minor (Db) | Bbm | Ab | Gb | F |
| F minor (Ab) | Fm | Eb | Db | C |
| C minor (Eb) | Cm | Bb | Ab | G |
| G minor (Bb) | Gm | F | Eb | D |
| D minor (F) | Dm | C | Bb | A |
Songs built on it
A few well-known examples, named so you can go and listen for the pattern. Nothing from them is reproduced here; the loop above is Swung’s own.
- Hit the Road Jack, Ray Charles
- Runaway, Del Shannon
- Walk, Don’t Run, The Ventures
- Sultans of Swing, Dire Straits
- Stray Cat Strut, Stray Cats
Common in flamenco, surf rock, rock, pop and film music.
What each style changes
| Style | BPM | Drums, bass and chords |
|---|---|---|
| Pop | 104 | bass: root eighths; chords: piano |
| House | 124 | bass: off-beat; chords: stabs, seventh chords |
| Lo-fi hip hop | 82, 58% swing | bass: with the kick; chords: electric piano, ninth chords |
| Trap | 140 | bass: 808; chords: dark pad |
| Reggaeton | 95 | bass: 3-3-2; chords: pad |