Soleares (soleá) are structured around a basic flamenco pattern, which includes guitar introduction, with these steps: “ayeo de salida” (introductory phrase), “cante de preparación” (preparation singing), “cante valiente” (brave singing), and “remate” (ending), with “falsetas” (guitar variations) intercalating between different verses.

It is difficult to distinguish the great variety of soleares that exist because the flamenco personality and character of the soleá permeate almost all flamenco, and the variations are numerous.

The Soleá de Cádiz is shorter, direct, and joyful. The Soleá de Jerez emphasizes melody more, and the Soleá de Triana is even more melodic. The differences between soleá styles are based on harmony, tonality, and rhythm.

All soleares share the common metric and the twelve-beat rhythm that governs the measure of this foundational style.