I–♭VII–IV–I

The I–♭VII–IV–I turnaround chains two plagal cadences together, descending by fourths from the borrowed ♭VII through IV back to the tonic. This plagal double descent avoids dominant harmony entirely, giving it a modal, earthy quality. It is a signature pattern in Britpop and classic rock.

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

Genre: rock, pop   Difficulty: intermediate

Choose a Key

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

Song Examples