Minor i-iv-bIII-bVI Chord Progression
The Minor i-iv-bIII-bVI is the chord progression i-iv-bIII-bVI. In the key of C minor it is Cm Fm Eb Ab, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m 4m b3 b6.
It is also known as Teen Spirit progression (informal).
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Roots move up a fourth, down a step, then up a fourth again, so the pattern is two fourth jumps linked by a step. On guitar it is usually played as power chords, which hides the major and minor quality and makes the riff feel blunt and heavy. On paper it sits in natural minor.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smells Like Teen Spirit | Nirvana | intro, verse and chorus | F5 Bb5 Ab5 Db5 | F minor |
| Break Free | Ariana Grande ft. Zedd | verse | Gm Cm Bb Eb | G minor |
| Banquet | Bloc Party | verse | Bbm Ebm Db Gb | Bb minor |
Minor i-iv-bIII-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
- Minor i-bIII-bVII-iv: Cm Eb Bb Fm
- Minor i-v-iv: Cm Gm Fm
- Minor i-v-bVI-bVII: Cm Gm Ab Bb
- Subtonic shuttle (minor): Cm Bb
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-iv-bIII-bVI in each key?
In C minor: Cm Fm Eb Ab. In G minor: Gm Cm Bb Eb. In D minor: Dm Gm F Bb. In A minor: Am Dm C F. In E minor: Em Am G C.
Which songs use the Minor i-iv-bIII-bVI?
Songs that use it include Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, Break Free by Ariana Grande ft. Zedd, Banquet by Bloc Party.
