I–♭VII–♭VI–♭V in C Major

Pattern: I – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭V Chords: C – B♭ – A♭ – G♭

Chord Breakdown

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

Harmonic Analysis

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

C B♭ A♭ G♭

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