CifraLab

Harmonic Pedagogy • Ear & Emotional Psychology Analysis

Progression: Flamenco Passion & Andalusian Cadence

Understand the harmonic structure and musical psychology of the Flamenco Passion & Andalusian Cadence progression (Am - G - F - E7): in-depth analysis with…

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Written by CifraLab · 6 min read · 5 sections

Curve of Tension and RestHarmonic interval curve oscillating between stable consonance, peak dissonance, and emotional resolution.TONAL REST LINESTABLEΔCLIMAX / TENSIONmMELANCHOLYRESOLUTIONCONSONANCETENSION / CLIMAXRESOLUTION
How tension rises and falls in a progression · CifraLab illustration

1. Theoretical Foundation & Acoustic Motion

Voice leading and tension-resolution mechanics

The Phrygian descent of Iberian and Mediterranean folk (i - ♭VII - ♭VI - V7 in A minor: Am - G - F - E7). Resolving to a dominant E7 gives it Spanish fire and emotional depth.

Listen to Flamenco Passion & Andalusian Cadence twice through

  1. Am
  2. G
  3. F
  4. E7
  5. Am
  6. G
  7. F
  8. E7
Close your eyes on the second pass and notice which chord changes the mood the most.

2. The progression, step by step

Harmonic positions in this progression
PositionChordDegree
1Ami
2G♭VII
3F♭VI
4E7V7

3. Chord tones and interval structure

Pitches and formulas for the chords above
ChordChord tonesFormula
AmA – C – E1 - ♭3 - 5
GG – B – D1 - 3 - 5
FF – A – C1 - 3 - 5
E7E – G# – B – D1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7

Check it with your ear

Two short questions to solidify what you've just read. There's no grade or record, so if you get it wrong, you can listen again and try again.

Which chord does Flamenco Passion & Andalusian Cadence start on and settle into?

Listen to both orders. Which one is the progression on this page?

Try it on your guitar

Play , , and with four beats per chord, slowly at first and then close to 115 BPM. Once you can play it without stopping, sing one long note over every chord and hear how its color changes even though you do not move it.

Acoustic Chords:

AmView Am chord fingeringGView G chord fingeringFView F chord fingeringE7View E7 chord fingering

What you can check on the guitar

This reading uses Am, G, F and E7, the progression CifraLab proposes for a “Flamenco Passion & Andalusian Cadence” feel. What follows can be checked by playing.

It uses the same chords in the same order as “Dramatic Tension & Passionate Fire”. What changes is the tempo, 115 against 96 beats per minute, and the name CifraLab proposes for each one. From Am to G, every note changes. G and F have no notes in common.

From F to E7, every note changes. Going back from E7 to Am, G# rises a semitone to A and D falls a whole tone to C. The two chords share E.

“Flamenco Passion & Andalusian Cadence” runs at 115 beats per minute, so each beat lasts 522 milliseconds. If each chord takes one bar of four beats, the full cycle lasts 8.3 seconds. Read in A minor, its degrees are i, ♭VII, ♭VI and V7.

Another reading takes E as the centre. Am holds A, C and E. In G you hear G, B and D. F holds F, A and C. In E7 you hear E, G#, B and D.