1 2 [3] 1 2 [3] 1 [2] 1 [2] 1 [2]When performed, the bulería usually starts on beat twelve of the compas, so the accented beat is heard first.

It is played at about 240 beats per minute, most commonly in an A-phrygian mode, with a sharpened third to make A major the root chord. A typical rasgueado (a strumming pattern that sets the rhythm) involves only the A and B♭ chords as follows:

A A [B♭] — — [B♭] A [A] A [A] — [A]