Subtonic Shuttle (I bVII)
The Subtonic shuttle is the chord progression I-bVII. In the key of C major it is C Bb, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1 b7.
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 Mixolydian two-chord vamp. bVII replaces V, so the b7 of the mode is the main colour, and the whole-step bass shuttle has none of the pull of a leading tone. Common in rock, funk and Celtic music.
How to use it
That bVII chord is so common in rock tunes that it's no wonder we occasionally see it alone with the root. In this two chord method it is used sparingly to produce a light bluesy sway. Sometimes the root is even changed from major to 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Lotta Love | Led Zeppelin | chorus | E D | E major |
| Tired of Waiting for You | The Kinks | intro and verse | G F G F (plays bVII-I) | G major |
| On Broadway | The Drifters | verse | A G | A major |
| Alive | Pearl Jam | verse | A G (I bVII) | A Mixolydian |
| Fire on the Mountain | Grateful Dead | chorus | B A (I bVII) | B Mixolydian |
| You Get What You Give | New Radicals | verse | D C with added ninths (I9 bVII9) | D major |
| A Hard Day's Night | The Beatles | verse line ending | F G (plays bVII-I) | G major |
Subtonic Shuttle: 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-IV-iv: C F Fm
- I-II-ii: C D Dm
- I-v-ii: C Gm Dm
- Creep progression: C E F 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 Subtonic shuttle in each key?
In C major: C Bb. In G major: G F. In D major: D C. In A major: A G. In E major: E D.
Which songs use the Subtonic shuttle?
Songs that use it include Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin, Tired of Waiting for You by The Kinks, On Broadway by The Drifters.
