Classical & Latin Chord Progressions

Some of the oldest progressions are still everywhere: the Baroque Canon, and the falling Andalusian cadence of flamenco and Latin music.

Play them in C major — or pick another key

Canon progression in C major

The famous Baroque ground bass — eight chords that pop songs still borrow. 8 bars, then it loops.

90 BPM
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Solo on the fretboard

012345678910111213141516171819EFGABCDEFGABABCDEFGABCDEDEFGABCDEFGAGABCDEFGABCDBCDEFGABCDEFEFGABCDEFGAB
Chord tones C major Key note

Press play — or tap a chord above — to see its notes light up. Open the scale in the fretboard tool

Pick a progression

3 classical & latin progressions

  1. Canon progression

    I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V

    The famous Baroque ground bass — eight chords that pop songs still borrow.

    In C: C – G – Am – Em – F – C – F – G

    In G: G – D – Em – Bm – C – G – C – DIn D: D – A – Bm – F♯m – G – D – G – A

  2. Phrygian

    i (2 bars) – ♭II (2 bars)

    The major chord a half step above i gives a dark, Spanish sound.

    In Am: Am – B♭

    In Em: Em – FIn Dm: Dm – E♭

  3. Andalusian cadence

    i – VII – VI – V

    Steps down to a major V — the sound of flamenco and much Latin music.

    In Am: Am – G – F – E

    In Em: Em – D – C – BIn Dm: Dm – C – B♭ – A

Why they work

The Andalusian cadence walks down the scale (i–VII–VI–V), ending on a major V borrowed from the harmonic minor — that raised note is what makes it sound Spanish.

The Canon progression is a pattern of falling fourths and rising seconds; its bass line has been reused so often that you will hear it in classical pieces and pop ballads alike.

See them on the circle of fifths · Chord charts · Metronome

More chord progressions