I–♭VI–♭VII–IV in C Major

Pattern: I – ♭VI – ♭VII – IV Chords: C – A♭ – B♭ – F

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
I	C (details)	major	Tonic
♭VI	A♭ (details)	major	Submediant
♭VII	B♭ (details)	major	Subtonic
IV	F (details)	major	Subdominant

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through C (Tonic) → A♭ (Submediant) → B♭ (Subtonic) → F (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

C A♭ B♭ F

More Progressions in C 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