bVII-V7 Cadence
The bVII-V7 cadence is the chord progression bVII-V7. In the key of C major it is Bb G7, and in the Nashville Number System it is written b7 5(7).
Chords from outside the key of C major: Bb.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The bVII is borrowed from the minor side and moves straight to a dominant seventh, which then resolves to I, so the full phrase is bVII-V7-I. It mixes a modal colour with a classic dominant pull. Walter Everett calls it a mainstay of 1960s rock, and it also turns up often in film scores, especially Westerns.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay | Otis Redding | bridge ending | F D G | G major |
| Femme Fatale | The Velvet Underground | chorus | Bb G C | C major |
bVII-V7 Cadence: 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
- I-v-bVII-IV: C Gm Bb F
- Lydian shuttle: C D
- Puff schema with major III: C E7 F
- Minor plagal cadence: Fm 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 bVII-V7 cadence in each key?
In C major: Bb G7. In G major: F D7. In D major: C A7. In A major: G E7. In E major: D B7.
Which songs use the bVII-V7 cadence?
Songs that use it include (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding, Femme Fatale by The Velvet Underground.
