i bIII bVI V Chord Progression
In the key of C minor the i-bIII-bVI-V progression is Cm Eb Ab G. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1m b3 b6 5.
Chords from outside the key of C minor: G.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Natural minor with a harmonic minor V at the end. The leading tone appears only in the last chord, and bVI to V is a half-step bass descent, the same strong gesture that ends the Andalusian cadence.
How to use it
Here we have a normal progression that has undergone a few changes. Our root is a minor and our vi is a major and flattened. The tension provided makes for interesting rock and pop tunes.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dance, Dance | Fall Out Boy | chorus | Bm D G F# | B minor |
| Crazy | Gnarls Barkley | verse and chorus | Am Cmaj7 F Esus4 E with capo 3, sounding Cm Ebmaj7 Ab Gsus4 G | C minor |
| Potential Breakup Song | Aly & AJ | pre-chorus and chorus | F#m A D C# (i III VI V) | F# minor |
| Snakes on a Plane (Bring It) | Cobra Starship | chorus | F#m A D C# (i III VI V) | F# minor |
| Nightmare | Set It Off | chorus | G#m B E D# (i III VI V) | G# minor |
i bIII bVI V 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
- i-bVI-bVII: Cm Ab Bb
- i-bVII-bIII-bVI: Cm Bb Eb Ab
- i-bVI shuttle: Cm Ab
- Minor i-iv-V: Cm Fm G
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-bIII-bVI-V progression in each key?
In C minor: Cm Eb Ab G. In G minor: Gm Bb Eb D. In D minor: Dm F Bb A. In A minor: Am C F E. In E minor: Em G C B.
Which songs use the i-bIII-bVI-V progression?
Songs that use it include Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy, Crazy by Gnarls Barkley, Potential Breakup Song by Aly & AJ.
