I–♭VI–♭VII–IV in F Major
Pattern: I – ♭VI – ♭VII – IV
Chords: F – D♭ – E♭ – B♭
Chord Breakdown
| Numeral | Chord | Type | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | F (details) | major | Tonic |
| ♭VI | D♭ (details) | major | Submediant |
| ♭VII | E♭ (details) | major | Subtonic |
| IV | B♭ (details) | major | Subdominant |
Harmonic Analysis
This progression moves through F (Tonic) → D♭ (Submediant) → E♭ (Subtonic) → B♭ (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