Soléa develops in (altered) Phrygian mode “por arriba” (fundamental on the 6th string), with the III degree of the mode altered to a major 3rd when resolving to I.

To adapt to the singer’s vocal range, guitarists can use a “cejilla” (capo) to play in any key while preserving the known chord positions. Modern guitarists often play soleá using other chord positions or even changing the tuning of the guitar to experiment with new sounds, especially in solo instrumental pieces.

The typical flamenco progression iv, III, II, I (an altered Phrygian cadence) is heard several times during the development of the song. In E altered Phrygian, the progression would be Am, G, F, E (the E chord should be Em in a diatonic Phrygian cadence, but its diatonic third – G – is altered to a G♯).

A usual progression with a four-line stanza is the following:

• first line: E⁷, Am,
• transition to 2nd line: Am, G, (or F, G)
• 2nd line: F, E
• 3rd line: G⁷, C (or C7)
• 4th line: Am, G, F, E, F, E

And a usual progression with a three-line stanza:

• first line: E⁷, Am
• 2nd line: G⁷, C
• 3rd line: Am, G, F, E, F, E