i–VII–VI–V

The Andalusian cadence — Spanish, descending, inescapable.

Degrees: i–VII–VI–V
Mode: minor
Bars: 4
In A minor: Am – G – F – E

The progression in A minor

In all twelve keys

The same degrees, shifted twelve times. To move a song into another key, read off the row.

Key	i	VII	VI	V
A minor	Am	G	F	E
E minor	Em	D	C	B
B minor	Bm	A	G	F#
F# minor	F#m	E	D	C#
C# minor	C#m	B	A	G#
G# minor	G#m	F#	E	D#
D minor	Dm	C	Bb	A
G minor	Gm	F	Eb	D
C minor	Cm	Bb	Ab	G
F minor	Fm	Eb	Db	C
Bb minor	Bbm	Ab	Gb	F
Eb minor	Ebm	Db	Cb	Bb

Why it sounds that way

The four roots walk downwards step by step: from the tonic through the seventh and sixth degrees to the fifth. The final chord is major rather than minor — the flamenco touch that makes the progression recognisable at once.

Where you hear it

Hit the Road Jack — Ray Charles
Sultans of Swing — Dire Straits
Runaway — Del Shannon

Related progressions

i–VII–VI–VIIThe minor loop i–iv–vThe three primary chords in minor

Anotona does this for you

Photograph a page of sheet music or play the melody — Anotona finds the key, engraves the notes and transposes them into any other. Free.

See Anotona

Every note on this page is computed, not typed in — following the rule that also makes F# major spell its seventh degree E#, not F.