Andalusian Cadence Chord Progression (i–♭VII–♭VI–V)
Descending flamenco line landing on a major V (harmonic-minor flavour). Dramatic and Spanish.
The chords, in every key
i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cm | i |
| 2 | Bb | ♭VII |
| 3 | Ab | ♭VI |
| 4 | G | V |
What to play over it
In C minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
C Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesCDE♭FGA♭B♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
G Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesGA♭BCDE♭F
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C#m | i |
| 2 | B | ♭VII |
| 3 | A | ♭VI |
| 4 | G# | V |
What to play over it
In C# minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
C# Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesC♯D♯EF♯G♯AB
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
G# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesG♯AB♯C♯D♯EF♯
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dm | i |
| 2 | C | ♭VII |
| 3 | Bb | ♭VI |
| 4 | A | V |
What to play over it
In D minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
D Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesDEFGAB♭C
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
A Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesAB♭C♯DEFG
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ebm | i |
| 2 | Db | ♭VII |
| 3 | Cb | ♭VI |
| 4 | Bb | V |
What to play over it
In Eb minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Eb Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesE♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
Bb Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesB♭C♭DE♭FG♭A♭
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Em | i |
| 2 | D | ♭VII |
| 3 | C | ♭VI |
| 4 | B | V |
What to play over it
In E minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
E Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesEF♯GABCD
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
B Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesBCD♯EF♯GA
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fm | i |
| 2 | Eb | ♭VII |
| 3 | Db | ♭VI |
| 4 | C | V |
What to play over it
In F minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
F Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
C Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesCD♭EFGA♭B♭
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F#m | i |
| 2 | E | ♭VII |
| 3 | D | ♭VI |
| 4 | C# | V |
What to play over it
In F# minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
F# Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesF♯G♯ABC♯DE
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
C# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesC♯DE♯F♯G♯AB
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gm | i |
| 2 | F | ♭VII |
| 3 | Eb | ♭VI |
| 4 | D | V |
What to play over it
In G minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
G Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesGAB♭CDE♭F
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
D Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesDE♭F♯GAB♭C
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G#m | i |
| 2 | F# | ♭VII |
| 3 | E | ♭VI |
| 4 | D# | V |
What to play over it
In G# minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
G# Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesG♯A♯BC♯D♯EF♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
D# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesD♯EF♯♯G♯A♯BC♯
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Am | i |
| 2 | G | ♭VII |
| 3 | F | ♭VI |
| 4 | E | V |
What to play over it
In A minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
A Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesABCDEFG
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
E Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesEFG♯ABCD
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bbm | i |
| 2 | Ab | ♭VII |
| 3 | Gb | ♭VI |
| 4 | F | V |
What to play over it
In Bb minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bb Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesB♭CD♭E♭FG♭A♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
F Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesFG♭AB♭CD♭E♭
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bm | i |
| 2 | A | ♭VII |
| 3 | G | ♭VI |
| 4 | F# | V |
What to play over it
In B minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
B Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesBC♯DEF♯GA
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
F# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesF♯GA♯BC♯DE
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
The shapes
Drawn in C minor. Each one is movable \u2014 slide the whole pattern to put its root on the key you picked above.
C Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesCDE♭FGA♭B♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
G Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesGA♭BCDE♭F
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
Documented in the wild
- Hit the Road JackRay Charles
- Sultans of SwingDire Straits
- Walk Don't RunThe Ventures
Want more?
See how the chords are played, edit the progression, and hear it live in Turnaround