I–IV–vii–iii–vi–ii–V–I in A♭ Major

Pattern: I – IV – vii – iii – vi – ii – V – I Chords: A♭ – D♭ – Gm – Cm – Fm – Bbm – E♭ – A♭

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
I	A♭ (details)	major	Tonic
IV	D♭ (details)	major	Subdominant
vii	Gm (details)	minor	Subtonic
iii	Cm (details)	minor	Mediant
vi	Fm (details)	minor	Submediant
ii	Bbm (details)	minor	Supertonic
V	E♭ (details)	major	Dominant
I	A♭ (details)	major	Tonic

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through A♭ (Tonic) → D♭ (Subdominant) → Gm (Subtonic) → Cm (Mediant) → Fm (Submediant) → Bbm (Supertonic) → E♭ (Dominant) → A♭ (Tonic).

The full diatonic circle of fifths traversing every scale degree before arriving at the tonic. Baroque composers used this exhaustive harmonic sequence in sequential passages, creating a powerful sense of inevitability and tonal gravity.

Song Examples

Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 — J.S. Bach
Chaconne in D minor — J.S. Bach

Chord Details

A♭ D♭ Gm Cm Fm Bbm E♭

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