Play the Andalusian cadence in G# minor and you play G#m – F# – E – D#. It descends by step in a minor key and ends on a major V, the harmonic-minor dominant that pulls back to the minor tonic. The sections below break the sequence down chord by chord, explain when to use it and show you variations.
What is the Andalusian cadence in G# minor?
The Andalusian cadence in G# minor is a progression in G# minor with the degrees i–VII–VI–V and the chord sequence G#m – F# – E – D#. It is a minor-key progression: the chords descend by step in G# minor, and the final V chord is major — the harmonic-minor dominant — which is what pulls the progression back to the minor tonic.
| Bar | Degree | Chord |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | G#m |
| 2 | VII | F# |
| 3 | VI | E |
| 4 | V | D# |
G#m is the minor chord built from G#, B, D#. In the Andalusian cadence in G# minor it appears 1 time, and its job is to anchor the progression as the tonic — the chord the phrase returns to. Learn it on its own page — G#m guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
F# is the major chord built from F#, A#, C#. In the Andalusian cadence in G# minor it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — F# guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
E is the major chord built from E, G#, B. In the Andalusian cadence in G# minor it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — E guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
D# is the major chord built from D#, G, A#. In the Andalusian cadence in G# minor it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — D# guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
When to use it
The Andalusian cadence in G# minor feels dark, dramatic and Spanish-sounding, and it is used most in flamenco, classical and rock. It descends by step in a minor key and ends on a major V, the harmonic-minor dominant that pulls back to the minor tonic. That feel is the reason to choose this progression: when the music needs that mood, this sequence delivers it with the least effort, because the chords do the emotional work for you.
Over the Andalusian cadence in G# minor, the scales that fit best are the G# major scale, G# minor pentatonic scale, G# blues scale. The major scale fits the major chords, the minor pentatonic fits almost everything in the progression, and the blues scale adds the flattened notes that suit the dominant 7th chords where the progression has them. Start by soloing with the minor pentatonic scale over the whole progression, then try the major scale over the tonic chord and listen to how the colour changes. The Chord Progression Builder lets you hear the Andalusian cadence in G# minor in any key, and the Progression Finder identifies a progression from its chords.
Variations
Extended dominant: G#m – F# – E – D#7. Play the final V chord as D#7, adding the flattened 7th to the major V. The extra tension makes the return to the minor tonic stronger.
Closing on the tonic: G#m – F# – E – D# – G#m. Add the tonic chord at the end, so the cadence closes on the minor tonic instead of hanging on the dominant. It turns the four-chord descent into a complete phrase.
The same progression in other keys
The same progression in other keys is Andalusian cadence in C minor, Andalusian cadence in C# minor, Andalusian cadence in D minor, Andalusian cadence in D# minor. The degrees stay the same — i–VII–VI–V — and only the chords change, because each key has its own set of diatonic chords. Learning the Andalusian cadence in G# minor as a pattern of degrees, rather than as a list of chord names, is what lets you play it in any key: the pattern is portable, the chords are not. Try the progression in the key a fourth above G# minor next, then a fifth above, and use the Chord Transposer to move the whole sequence to a new key in one step. The key pages for those keys — for example the key of C minor — list the diatonic chords you will need.
Practising the Andalusian cadence in G# minor
A good way to practise the Andalusian cadence in G# minor is to play it three times in a row without stopping: once slowly, once at a comfortable tempo, and once while humming a simple melody over the top. The melody does not need to be clever — three or four notes from the key of G# minor are enough — because the point is to hear how the chords support a melody, not to write a song. Then try the progression with a different rhythm: play each chord as an arpeggio instead of a block chord, or strum it with a pattern from the Strumming Pattern Finder and keep time with the Metronome. The sequence is G#m – F# – E – D# and the degrees are i–VII–VI–V; once you can play it without looking at the page, you know the Andalusian cadence in G# minor.
For a second practice step, take the Andalusian cadence in G# minor apart chord by chord. Play the first chord on its own and hold it for two bars, listening to its sound in the key of G# minor, then add the second chord, then the third, until the whole sequence G#m – F# – E – D# is running. That slow build is the fastest way to learn a progression, because it teaches you the change between each pair of chords rather than the sequence as a blur. When the changes are clean at a slow tempo, raise the tempo a little at a time with the Metronome, and try the progression in the neighbouring keys linked above, where the degrees i–VII–VI–V stay the same and only the chord names change.
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the Andalusian cadence in G# minor?
The Andalusian cadence in G# minor uses the chords G#m – F# – E – D#. Those chords, in that order, are the whole progression — play them one per bar and you are playing the progression as written.
What key is the Andalusian cadence in G# minor in?
It is in G# minor. The degrees are i–VII–VI–V, and the chords are the diatonic chords of that key, so the progression belongs to G# minor and the scales of that key fit over it.
How many chords are in the Andalusian cadence in G# minor?
There are 4 chords in the sequence, with 4 distinct chords: G#m, F#, E, D#. The repeated chords are part of the pattern — repetition is what makes a progression memorable.
What scale should I play over the Andalusian cadence in G# minor?
The G# major scale, the G# minor pentatonic scale and the G# blues scale all fit, as explained in the section above. Start with the minor pentatonic, which fits over the whole progression, and add the major scale over the tonic chord.
Can I play the Andalusian cadence in G# minor in another key?
Yes. The degrees stay the same — i–VII–VI–V — and only the chords change. The section above links the same progression in other keys, and the Chord Transposer moves the whole sequence to any key you choose.