♭VI–V–I

The ♭VI–V–I progression approaches the tonic through half-step motion from the borrowed ♭VI to the dominant V. This chromatic squeeze creates intense tension before the satisfying resolution to I. The pattern appears in classical music as a deceptive resolution reversal and in rock as a dramatic cadence.

Pattern: ♭VI – V – I   Example in C Major: A♭ – G – C

Genre: rock, classical   Difficulty: intermediate

Choose a Key

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

Song Examples