I–♭VI–♭VII–IV

The I–♭VI–♭VII–IV progression borrows the ♭VI and ♭VII from the parallel minor before landing on the diatonic IV, blending dark and bright tonalities. The borrowed chords add grit and edge to what resolves as a major-key pattern. This mixture of modal borrowing and punk energy is common in pop-punk and alternative rock.

Pattern: I – ♭VI – ♭VII – IV   Example in C Major: C – A♭ – B♭ – F

Genre: rock, metal   Difficulty: intermediate

Choose a Key

C Major C – A♭ – B♭ – F G Major G – E♭ – F – C D Major D – B♭ – C – G A Major A – F – G – D E Major E – C – D – A B Major B – G – A – E F♯ Major F♯ – D – E – B F Major F – D♭ – E♭ – B♭ B♭ Major B♭ – G♭ – A♭ – E♭ E♭ Major E♭ – B – D♭ – A♭ A♭ Major A♭ – E – G♭ – D♭ D♭ Major D♭ – A – B – G♭

Song Examples