I–IV–I–V in D♭ Major
Pattern: I – IV – I – V
Chords: D♭ – G♭ – D♭ – A♭
Chord Breakdown
| Numeral | Chord | Type | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | D♭ (details) | major | Tonic |
| IV | G♭ (details) | major | Subdominant |
| I | D♭ (details) | major | Tonic |
| V | A♭ (details) | major | Dominant |
Harmonic Analysis
This progression moves through D♭ (Tonic) → G♭ (Subdominant) → D♭ (Tonic) → A♭ (Dominant).
This progression swings from tonic to subdominant, returns home, and then lifts to the dominant. The return to I in the middle provides a strong grounding effect before the dominant creates forward motion.
Song Examples
- La Bamba — Ritchie Valens
- Louie Louie — The Kingsmen