♭VI–V–I in A♭ Major

Pattern: ♭VI – V – I Chords: E – E♭ – A♭

Chord Breakdown

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

Harmonic Analysis

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

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.

Song Examples

While My Guitar Gently Weeps — The Beatles
Creep (chorus resolution) — Radiohead

Chord Details

E E♭ A♭

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