I–♭VII–♭VI–♭V in A Major

Pattern: I – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭V Chords: A – G – F – E♭

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
I	A (details)	major	Tonic
♭VII	G (details)	major	Subtonic
♭VI	F (details)	major	Submediant
♭V	E♭ (details)	major	Dominant

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through A (Tonic) → G (Subtonic) → F (Submediant) → E♭ (Dominant).

A dramatic chromatic descent through borrowed flat-side chords that creates a dark, unstable harmonic landscape. This progression is a favorite in modern jazz and fusion for creating tension over a descending bass line.

Song Examples

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat — Charles Mingus
Naima — John Coltrane

Chord Details

A G F E♭

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