I IV bVII IV Chord Progression
In the key of C major the I-IV-bVII-IV progression is C F Bb F. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 4 b7 4.
Chords from outside the key of C major: Bb.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The chords climb in fourths from I to bVII, then step back down through IV, so IV works as a hinge on both sides of the bVII. All three chords fit the Mixolydian mode, and the shape feels like a rise and return, not a cadence. Wikipedia describes it as arch shaped.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And She Was | Talking Heads | chorus | E A D A | E major |
| American Idiot | Green Day | intro riff | A D G D | A major |
| Hush | Deep Purple | chorus | A D G D | A major |
I IV 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
- Mario cadence: Ab Bb C
- bVII-V7 cadence: Bb G7
- I-v-bVII-IV: C Gm Bb F
- Lydian shuttle: C D
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-IV-bVII-IV progression in each key?
In C major: C F Bb F. In G major: G C F C. In D major: D G C G. In A major: A D G D. In E major: E A D A.
Which songs use the I-IV-bVII-IV progression?
Songs that use it include And She Was by Talking Heads, American Idiot by Green Day, Hush by Deep Purple.
