I bIII IV bVI Chord Progression
In the key of C major the I-bIII-IV-bVI progression is C Eb F Ab. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 b3 4 b6.
Chords from outside the key of C major: Eb, Ab.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Two chords from the parallel minor, bIII and bVI, joined by the diatonic IV. The first three roots come from the minor pentatonic and bVI adds a dark lift, so it reads as rock rather than classical borrowing.
How to use it
This progression is used in rock, often in later 60's psychedelia. You will see it in variations with a i minor instead of a I major and of course the use of the iv or V in place of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone | The Monkees | intro and chorus | E G A C | E major |
| Alpha Beta Gaga | Air | chorus | G Bb C Eb | G Mixolydian |
| What Do I Have to Do | Kylie Minogue | chorus | E G A C D | E Mixolydian |
| Love Shack | The B-52's | pre-chorus | C Eb F Ab | C Mixolydian |
I bIII IV bVI 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.
Shorter progressions inside it
- I-bIII-IV: C Eb F
More progressions like this one
- I-v: C Gm
- Quadruple plagal: Ab Eb Bb F C
- I-IV-bVII-IV: C F Bb F
- Mario cadence: Ab Bb 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 I-bIII-IV-bVI progression in each key?
In C major: C Eb F Ab. In G major: G Bb C Eb. In D major: D F G Bb. In A major: A C D F. In E major: E G A C.
Which songs use the I-bIII-IV-bVI progression?
Songs that use it include (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone by The Monkees, Alpha Beta Gaga by Air, What Do I Have to Do by Kylie Minogue.
