Chord progression · D♯ minor

The Andalusian cadence (i–VII–VI–V) in D♯ minor

Four chords stepping down from the minor tonic, ending on a major V. It has a Spanish, flamenco flavor and shows up across pop, rock and surf music.

Heard in “Hit the Road Jack” – Ray Charles, “Runaway” – Del Shannon and many more.

Chords in D♯ minor
D♯m→C♯→B→A♯
Numerals
iVIIVIV

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1D♯mi
2C♯VII
3BVI
4A♯V

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

i D♯m
6fr×1D♯3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
C4D♯F♯A♯D♯ F♯ A♯
VII C♯
4fr×1C♯2G♯3C♯4E♯1G♯
1G♯2C♯3E♯4C♯
C4E♯C♯G♯C♯ E♯ G♯
VI B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC4D♯F♯B D♯ F♯
V A♯
×1A♯2E♯3A♯4C𝄪1E♯
3A♯2C𝄪1E♯1A♯
C4C𝄪E♯A♯A♯ C𝄪 E♯

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.