I v bVII IV Chord Progression
In the key of C major the I-v-bVII-IV progression is C Gm Bb F. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 5m b7 4.
Chords from outside the key of C major: Gm, Bb.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Every chord belongs to the Mixolydian mode, and the minor v is the giveaway, since its flat seventh removes the leading tone. The pattern is two pairs a whole step apart, which gives it drive without any dominant pull. It is a modal relative of I-V-bVII-IV.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon Girl | Neil Young | verse | D Am C G | D major |
I v bVII IV 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
- Lydian shuttle: C D
- Puff schema with major III: C E7 F
- Minor plagal cadence: Fm C
- Chromatic mediant I-bIII: C Eb
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 I-v-bVII-IV progression in each key?
In C major: C Gm Bb F. In G major: G Dm F C. In D major: D Am C G. In A major: A Em G D. In E major: E Bm D A.
Which songs use the I-v-bVII-IV progression?
Songs that use it include Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young.
