I–♭VI–♭VII–IV in B♭ Major

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

Chord Breakdown

NumeralChordTypeFunction
I B♭ (details) major Tonic
♭VI G♭ (details) major Submediant
♭VII A♭ (details) major Subtonic
IV E♭ (details) major Subdominant

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through B♭ (Tonic) → G♭ (Submediant) → A♭ (Subtonic) → E♭ (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

Chord Details

B♭ G♭ A♭ E♭

More Progressions in B♭ 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