The Four Notes Heard Around The World

Dig beneath the dominating sounds of string instruments. Ignore the Autotune treatments of today’s pop tunes.

What if the fundamental elements of a good song in one genre is the same as a good song in another?

David Garland of WNYC’s “Spinning on Air” lists 50 songs — from Mozart to Green Day — to show that good music throughout history has a common DNA. He believes that many songs use a four-note sequence i-bVII-bVI-V (or, in the key of A, the descending sequence A, G, F, E), known as the Andalusian Cadence. Garland also contends it’s the world's most-used musical sequence.

Readers in the comments section to Garland’s story willingly add more examples of the Andalusian cadence and it becomes very apparent that the cadence’s popularity exceeds more than 50 songs.

Garland is quick to note that he does not think the Andalusian Cadence is a victim of intellectual theft or banality. Rather, he thinks that musicians are discovering and rediscovering this musical sequence all the time.

“Probably some of the musicians whose music I’m playing tonight would be surprised to hear how common this music sequence really is,” he said. “I don’t mean to say it’s commonplace, it’s got a special magic to it.”

Garland plays many of the 50 songs on his list and it’s a great treat to hear so many diverse tunes including those that normally wouldn’t make the radio or your online playlist. It’s also an opportunity to put your music knowledge to the test. Can you hear the Andalusian Cadence in each of these songs?

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