Andalusian cadence
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In music theory, the Andalusian cadence is a cadence, a chord progression that ends a phrase, section, or piece of music, commonly found in Flamenco music. It is designated as a (iv - III- II - I) progression. Since much of the music is played in two keys, each is now called by its own distinctive name. One is por arriba, played in the key of E, comprises of the following chord progression (Am - G - F - E) and por medio, played in the key of A, with (Dm - C - Bb - A).
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It is helpful to understand that, although por arriba and por medio function as keys in Flamenco, they are not keys in the sense that that term is understood in 'standard practice" music theory. Since instrumental flamenco music is by and large guitar music, and since much of that music is played in these two 'keys,' it is standard practice within the flamenco tradition to refer to these two in the same way one might refer to keys in other musical styles. The 'key' difference is that, using a capo or 'cejilla,' to raise the pitch of either of these keys so that por arriba, which would have a tonal center of E in the open position on the guitar, would, if one were to place a capo on the second fret of the guitar, have a tonal center of F#. The guitarist would still think of the chords as being in E and would describe them that way. This is so much a part of the flamenco tradition that it is common to see pieces of flamenco music transcribed as if they were being played in the open position even if the score called for a capo on a higher fret.
