METODO GUIT FLAMENCA vol2 OK.indd

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FLAMENCO MODE
According to Manuel Granados in his book “Armonía del flamenco”, the Flamenco mode is the
Gregorian Phyrgian mode, or the Greek Dorian mode harmonized. The I chord of the mode
converts to a major chord, not the minor chord which would correspond to the scale. In total
there are seven chords in the mode, of which four principal chords numbered IVm-III-II-I are the
most important. This progression is also called the “Andalusian Cadence”.
The four principal chords in progression represent the four characteristic harmonic functions of
the flamenco mode. The IV chord (minor) is a tonal centre (the minor key implied by the key
signature) and can act as the START function in the progression towards the I or tonic chord.
The III chord (major) acts as the INTERMEDIATE function in the progression, the II chord (major)
as the RESOLUTION function, and the I chord (major) acts as the TONIC function. A main
characteristic of the flamenco genre is that the musical phrase or falseta invariably resolves with
the I chord.
Apart from the principal chords of the Flamenco mode mentioned earlier, the cadence or
progression towards the tonic (I) can also be performed using the secondary chords of the same
mode. These are known as the VII chord (minor), VI chord (major), and V chord (diminished).
They can be used as substitutes for the main chords of the mode.
The following table created by Manuel Granados in his book on harmony shows the order of the
harmonic functions in the progressions, and the chords which can act as that function, listed in
decreasing order of importance:
START function: IV, II, VII, V
INTERMEDIATE function: III y VI
RESOLUTION function: II, VII y V
TONIC function: I
Principal chords in the most characteristic flamenco modes:
Flamenco mode in E
Main styles: Soleá, Siguiriya, Fandangos, Malagueñas, Tangos and Bulerías.
VIIm� VI� Vº� IVm� III� II� I�
Dm�
�
Flamenco mode in A
C� Bº� Am� G� F� E�
Main styles: Siguiriya, Tientos, Tangos, Bulerías, Soleá en LA, Soleá por bulerías and Fandangos.
MUESTRA
VIIm� VI� Vº� IVm� III� II� I�
Gm�
�
Flamenco mode in F#
F� Eº� Dm� C� Bb� A�
Main styles: Songs from Levante (Taranta).
VIIm� VI� Vº� IVm� III� II� I�
Em�
�
Flamenco mode in B
Main styles: Granaína.
D� C#º� Bm� A� G� F#�
VIIm� VI� Vº� IVm� III� II� I�
Am� G� F#º� Em� D� C� B�