Chord progression · E minor

The Andalusian cadence (i–VII–VI–V) in E 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 E minor
Em→D→C→B
Numerals
iVIIVIV

Play along

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

1Emi
2DVII
3CVI
4BV

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

The chords

i Em
E1B2EGBE
G3EE1B
C4EGBC5E G B
VII D
××D1A3D2F♯
1A2D3F♯A
C4DAC5F♯D F♯ A
VI C
×3C2EG1CE
GCE1C
CEGC5C E G
V B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC4C5D♯F♯B D♯ F♯

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.