I bIII bVII IV Chord Progression
In the key of C major the I-bIII-bVII-IV progression is C Eb Bb F. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 b3 b7 4.
It is also known as Triple plagal, Triple plagal cadence, Extended plagal.
The same loop is also written bIII-bVII-IV-I.
Chords from outside the key of C major: Eb, Bb.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Three moves by fourths in reverse: bIII-bVII-IV-I is the triple plagal or plagal cascade, here started from I. Both flat chords are borrowed from the parallel minor. The result has a big, open rock sound, because the chords rise by fifths instead of falling.
The same loop as Triple plagal (bIII-bVII-IV-I)
This adds one more falling fourth in front of the double plagal, so every chord is the IV of the chord after it. The bIII and bVII come from the parallel minor and Mixolydian side of the key, which gives a bluesy, wide open sound that resolves to a bright major tonic.
How to use it
Just as early rock songs commonly have I-bVII-IV progressions they also occasionally add the bIII. Like other rock and pop tunes they may use various orders of these chords, sometimes even modulating to minor.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirty Boots | Sonic Youth | intro and verse | E G D A | E major |
| Summer Breeze | Seals and Crofts | verse | E G D A | E major |
| Jumpin' Jack Flash | The Rolling Stones | chorus (But it's all right now) | Db Ab Eb Bb | Bb major |
| Here Comes the Sun | The Beatles | bridge (sun, sun, sun, here it comes) | F C G D A7 | D major |
| Alive | Pearl Jam | chorus | E G D A | E major |
| Pictures of Matchstick Men | Status Quo | verse | D F C G | D major |
| Real Gone | Sheryl Crow | chorus | B D A E | B major |
I bIII 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
- I-i: C Cm
- I-III-vi-IV: C E Am F
- Subtonic shuttle: C Bb
- I-IV-iv: C F Fm
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-bVII-IV progression in each key?
In C major: C Eb Bb F. In G major: G Bb F C. In D major: D F C G. In A major: A C G D. In E major: E G D A.
Which songs use the I-bIII-bVII-IV progression?
Songs that use it include Dirty Boots by Sonic Youth, Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts, Jumpin' Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones.
