i bVII v bVI Chord Progression
In the key of C minor the i-bVII-v-bVI progression is Cm Bb Gm Ab. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1m b7 5m b6.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Natural minor, with the bass moving through bVII and down to v before bVI. The minor v keeps the Aeolian colour and the bVI at the end rises a major third back to the tonic.
How to use it
With the minor chords in this progression we get a more serious vibe, but the major bVI and bVII give it a nice lift in pop music. It is similar to the flamenco sequence, just with a minor fifth and the last two chords swapped.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can't Hold Us | Macklemore & Ryan Lewis | verse and chorus | Em D Bm C | E minor |
| Can't Stop | Red Hot Chili Peppers | intro and verse | Em D Bm C | E minor |
| To the Moon and Back | Savage Garden | intro and verse | Bm A F#m G with capo 1, sounding Cm Bb Gm Ab | C minor |
| The Zephyr Song | Red Hot Chili Peppers | intro and verse | Am G Em F (i VII v VI) | A minor |
| Attention | Charlie Puth | intro, verse and pre-chorus | D#m C# A#m B (i VII v VI) | D# minor |
| Love Is a Battlefield | Pat Benatar | chorus | Dm C Am Bb (i VII v VI) | D minor |
i bVII v 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.
More progressions like this one
- i-bIII-bVI-V: Cm Eb Ab G
- i-bVI-bVII: Cm Ab Bb
- i-bVII-bIII-bVI: Cm Bb Eb Ab
- i-bVI shuttle: Cm Ab
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-bVII-v-bVI progression in each key?
In C minor: Cm Bb Gm Ab. In G minor: Gm F Dm Eb. In D minor: Dm C Am Bb. In A minor: Am G Em F. In E minor: Em D Bm C.
Which songs use the i-bVII-v-bVI progression?
Songs that use it include Can't Hold Us by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Can't Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers, To the Moon and Back by Savage Garden.
