I-I7-IV-iv Chord Progression
The I-I7-IV-iv minor plagal is the chord progression I-I7-IV-iv. In the key of C major it is C C7 F Fm, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1 1(7) 4 4m.
It is also known as minor plagal move.
Chords from outside the key of C major: C7, Fm.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
I7 adds a flat seventh that tips the tonic towards IV. Then IV turns minor, a chord borrowed from the parallel minor, and its flat sixth degree falls by half step to the fifth of I. It gives the bittersweet sound of gospel and soul ballads, and it also forms bars 5 and 6 of rhythm changes.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In My Life | The Beatles | verse | A7 D Dm A | A major |
| You Are So Beautiful | Joe Cocker | chorus | G G7 Cmaj7 Cm G | Ab major |
| I Got Rhythm | George Gershwin | A section, bars 5 and 6 | I I7 IV iv | Bb major |
I-I7-IV-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.
Shorter progressions inside it
- I-IV-iv: C F Fm
More progressions like this one
- I7-IV7 vamp: C7 F7
- One-chord funk vamp: C7
- Just the Two of Us progression: Fmaj7 E7 Am7 Gm7 C7
- 7-3-6 progression: Bm7b5 E7 Am
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-I7-IV-iv minor plagal in each key?
In C major: C C7 F Fm. In G major: G G7 C Cm. In D major: D D7 G Gm. In A major: A A7 D Dm. In E major: E E7 A Am.
Which songs use the I-I7-IV-iv minor plagal?
Songs that use it include In My Life by The Beatles, You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker, I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin.
