Minor i-bVII-iv Chord Progression
The Minor i-bVII-iv is the chord progression i-bVII-iv. In the key of C minor it is Cm Bb Fm, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m b7 4m.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A natural minor loop that falls by step to bVII, then drops to iv, which leans back into i by plagal motion. No dominant chord is involved. It gives a cool, restrained groove that stays in the minor colour all the way through.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One More Night | Maroon 5 | verse and chorus | Fm Eb Bbm | F minor |
| Dani California | Red Hot Chili Peppers | intro and verse | Am G Dm Am | A minor |
| Another Day in Paradise | Phil Collins | intro and verse | Fm7 Eb Bbm7 | F minor |
Minor i-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
- Minor circle-of-fifths loop: Cm Fm Bb Eb
- Minor i-iv-bVI-V: Cm Fm Ab G
- Minor i-iv-bIII-bVI: Cm Fm Eb Ab
- Minor i-bIII-bVII-iv: Cm Eb Bb 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 Minor i-bVII-iv in each key?
In C minor: Cm Bb Fm. In G minor: Gm F Cm. In D minor: Dm C Gm. In A minor: Am G Dm. In E minor: Em D Am.
Which songs use the Minor i-bVII-iv?
Songs that use it include One More Night by Maroon 5, Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins.
