Music · i–♭VII–♭VI–V
The Andalusian cadence
Four chords descending a step at a time, a term adopted from flamenco: i–♭VII–♭VI–V in a minor key. Despite the name it is not a true cadence; it is most often an ostinato, repeating over and over. The pattern may not have occurred earlier than the Renaissance. The trip here goes down the scale away from home and lands on the dominant, which leads back to the start.
Watch for: Every move after home is a step down, and the loop closes on the major V that pulls back to i.
Songs that use it
- Runaway, Del Shannon source: Wikipedia: Andalusian cadence
- Walk, Don't Run, The Ventures (1960), the bass structure; its first chord is A major, not A minor source: Wikipedia: Andalusian cadence
- Sultans of Swing, Dire Straits source: Wikipedia: Andalusian cadence
The others
- The four-chord loop I–V–vi–IV
- The 50s progression I–vi–IV–V
- Twelve-bar blues I–IV–V in 12 bars
- Pachelbel's Canon I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V
- ii–V–I ii7–V7–Imaj7
- Type your own →
Sources
- Wikipedia: Andalusian cadence · The i–VII–VI–V descent from flamenco, most often an ostinato; rock songs that use it