Romanesca Chord Progression
The Romanesca is the chord progression bIII-bVII-i-V-bIII-bVII-i-V-i. In the key of C minor it is Eb Bb Cm G Eb Bb Cm G Cm, and in the Nashville Number System it is written b3 b7 1m 5 b3 b7 1m 5 1m.
It is also known as Guardame las vacas.
Chords from outside the key of C minor: G.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
This is the passamezzo antico with a new first chord: it starts on the relative major, and the rest follows the same path. Starting on bIII gives it a brighter, more songlike opening before it sinks into the minor tonic. Spanish vihuela players wrote variations on it, so it has real roots in the guitar family.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensleeves | Traditional | refrain | C G Em Am E C G Em Am E7 Am | A minor |
| Romanesca, o Guardame las vacas (1546) | Alonso Mudarra | the whole piece | bIII bVII i V bIII bVII i V i |
Romanesca Chord Progression: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- Neapolitan sixth: Cm Db/F G Cm
- Neapolitan in major: C Db G C
- German sixth approach: Ab7 G7 Cm
- Omnibus progression: G7 Bb7/Ab Dm/A Bb7 G7/B C
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the Romanesca in each key?
In C minor: Eb Bb Cm G Eb Bb Cm G Cm. In G minor: Bb F Gm D Bb F Gm D Gm. In D minor: F C Dm A F C Dm A Dm. In A minor: C G Am E C G Am E Am. In E minor: G D Em B G D Em B Em.
Which songs use the Romanesca?
Songs that use it include Greensleeves by Traditional, Romanesca, o Guardame las vacas (1546) by Alonso Mudarra.
