Guitar · Level 4 · Beginner
The Andalusian cadence in A minor on Guitar
Don’t just read about The Andalusian cadence in A minor. Play it.
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This descending four-chord pattern comes from flamenco and turns up in rock and film music. Its bass walks steadily down to a major V chord.
Am
Notes: A · C · E
G
Notes: G · B · D
F
Notes: F · A · C
E
Notes: E · G♯ · B
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Am, G, F and E. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Press just behind the fret with your fingertips and keep the thumb relaxed behind the neck.
- Set the tempo to 57 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Let the bass note of each chord step down one scale note at a time.
- Strum down on every beat at first, then try down–down–up–up–down–up.
- Raise the tempo to 76 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the stepwise fall in the lowest notes.
Listen for
Aim for the stepwise fall in the lowest notes. A common mistake is playing V as minor; it must be major to sound Spanish.
Why it works
The major V borrows a raised seventh from the harmonic minor scale, giving the strong leading tone.
A minor has no sharps or flats; its relative major key is C major.
Questions
What are the chords in i–♭VII–♭VI–V in A minor?
In A minor the progression is Am | G | F | E.
What is the key signature of A minor?
A minor has no sharps or flats. Its relative major is C major.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 4 lesson (beginner). If it feels too hard, start with “The 12-bar blues”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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