I–IV–♭VII–I in A♭ Major

Pattern: I – IV – ♭VII – I Chords: A♭ – D♭ – G♭ – A♭

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
I	A♭ (details)	major	Tonic
IV	D♭ (details)	major	Subdominant
♭VII	G♭ (details)	major	Subtonic
I	A♭ (details)	major	Tonic

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through A♭ (Tonic) → D♭ (Subdominant) → G♭ (Subtonic) → A♭ (Tonic).

A modal vamp built on the Mixolydian scale, using the characteristic ♭VII chord for a rock-influenced jazz flavor. This progression works well for modal jazz improvisation and funk-jazz fusion.

Song Examples

Chameleon — Herbie Hancock
Cissy Strut — The Meters

Chord Details

A♭ D♭ G♭

More Progressions in A♭ Major

I–IV–V–I I–V–vi–IV I–vi–IV–V ii–V–I I–IV–V I–♭VII–IV vi–IV–I–V I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V I–IV I–V IV–V IV–I