I–♭VI–♭VII–IV in A♭ Major

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

Chord Breakdown

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

Harmonic Analysis

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

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.

Song Examples

Basket Case — Green Day
All the Small Things — Blink-182

Chord Details

A♭ E G♭ D♭

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