2 Flamenco Piano Patterns Using the Spanish Cadence
You can play flamenco on the piano over the Andalusian cadence (Dm, C, Bb, A) using two patterns: a syncopated rhythm with a legato root-and-fifth left hand under right-hand chord hits, and a guitar-style pattern where the right hand cycles through flam, block, single and broken-chord articulations.
Key points
- The Andalusian cadence in D minor is Dm (i), C (VII), Bb (VI), A (V).
- Pattern 1 pairs a legato root-and-fifth left hand with syncopated right-hand chord hits, counted in eighth notes.
- Pattern 1 doubles as inversion practice when you change the right-hand triad shapes.
- Pattern 2 imitates flamenco guitar with four right-hand articulations: flam, block, single and broken.
- Listening to flamenco guitarists is essential for capturing the authentic feel.
This lesson, Part 6 of Jason Zac's Andalusian Cadence series at Nathaniel School of Music, shows you two well-known flamenco rhythm patterns on the piano. It suits pianists who already know basic triads and want to bring a Spanish, flamenco feel to their playing. The Andalusian cadence is closely tied to flamenco: many flamenco musicians play it, and even dance forms have grown around it.
The chords: the Andalusian cadence in D minor
Both patterns use the four chords of the Andalusian cadence in D minor. Get comfortable moving between them before adding any rhythm.
- D minor (D F A) – the i chord
- C major (C E G) – the VII chord
- Bb major (Bb D F) – the VI chord
- A major (A C# E) – the V chord
Notice that the V chord is major, which gives the cadence its strong Spanish pull back towards D minor.
Pattern 1: syncopated, percussive rhythm
The first pattern is a syncopated rhythm shared between the two hands. It sounds lively and almost like percussion.
Left hand
The left hand is very simple: play just the root and fifth of each chord. For D minor that is D and A, for C it is C and G, for Bb it is Bb and F, and for A it is A and E. You can place the fifth below the root, but it is more common to play it above. Keep the left hand very legato – this smooth bass against the choppy right hand is what makes the pattern catchy.
Right hand
The right hand plays the chord in short hits that fall between and around the left-hand notes, so the hands interlock: root, chord, fifth, chord, chord and so on. The easiest way to count it is in eighth notes: one and two and three and four and. Try to stretch the last hit of the bar a little longer than the others. Work slowly and follow the notation for the exact placement of each hit.
Use it for inversion practice
Once the rhythm feels natural, play the right-hand chords in different triad shapes. This turns the pattern into a useful inversion exercise as well as a flamenco groove.
Pattern 2: flamenco guitar style
The second pattern imitates the way a flamenco guitarist strums. Real flamenco guitar technique is hard to copy exactly, but this pattern simulates it on the keyboard as closely as possible.
The four right-hand articulations
The right hand uses four different ways of playing the chord:
- Flam – the chord notes are spread very quickly, almost like a fast triplet, the way a guitarist rakes across the strings.
- Block – all the notes played together, with no flam.
- Single – a single note on its own.
- Broken – the chord broken from the bottom note to the top.
A handy way to remember the order is to say it aloud: flam, block, flam, block, then the single notes, then break the chord from bottom to top.
Timing between the hands
The left hand starts first, with the fifth, and the right hand comes in after it, on the and of one. For the left hand you can play root and fifth (1 5), or spread it out as 1 5 3 or 1 3 5.
Through the whole cadence
Apply the same pattern to all four chords: D minor, C, Bb and A.
How to practise
- Learn the four chords until the changes are automatic.
- Practise each pattern very slowly, hands separately first, then together.
- For Pattern 1, keep the bass smooth and the right hand crisp.
- For Pattern 2, say the articulations aloud as you play them.
- Listen to flamenco guitarists to absorb the right feel – that is what brings out the real personality of the style.
Questions about this lesson
What chords are used for flamenco piano in this lesson?
The lesson uses the Andalusian cadence in D minor: D minor, C major, Bb major and A major, which work as i, VII, VI and V.
What does the left hand play in the syncopated flamenco pattern?
Just the root and fifth of each chord, played very legato. The fifth can go below the root, but it is more commonly placed above it.
How do you make the piano sound like a flamenco guitar?
Cycle the right hand through four articulations: a flam (a very quick spread of the chord, almost like a triplet), a block chord, single notes and a chord broken from bottom to top. The right hand enters on the and of one, after the left hand.
How should I count the syncopated pattern?
Count it in eighth notes (one and two and three and four and) and stretch the last right-hand hit of the bar slightly longer. Practise slowly while following the notation.
Practise it
- Cadence LibraryCompare piano cadences across keys and listen to how different chord movements create closure, suspense or a turn in a new direction.
- Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
Related lessons
- 6 Famous Songs That Use the Spanish (Andalusian) CadenceThe Andalusian cadence (i–bVII–bVI–V, in D minor Dm–C–Bb–A) can be played on piano with the rhythm patterns of songs like Feeling Good, House of the Rising Sun, Believer, Who Is It, Walk Don't Run and The Ketchup Song, then reused over other progressions.
- The 5 Pillars of Piano Accompaniment for Any GenreJason Zac's five pillars of piano accompaniment are ballad chords with a chosen time feel, arpeggio patterns, a low-high marching groove, the tresillo dance rhythm, and copying the drummer's kick, snare and hi-hat, all built by first deciding how the beat is divided.
- The Spanish Andalusian Cadence Every Pianist Should Know (Part 1)The Andalusian cadence in D minor is Dm–C–Bb–A (i–bVII–bVI–V), a descending, flamenco-flavoured progression that borrows the C from the natural minor and the A major (with C#) from the harmonic minor.
- How to Play Disco and Dance Piano: Left-Hand Bass and Syncopated Right HandTo play disco piano, keep the left hand toggling between a root and its octave in steady eighth notes (pinky legato on the root, a short staccato thumb flick on the octave) while the right hand plays the chords in rhythms that build from held whole notes to off-beat hits, tresillo patterns and sixteenth-note syncopation.