♭VII–V–I

The backdoor dominant approach uses the ♭VII chord as an unexpected entry point before the standard dominant resolution. This creates a colorful, slightly ambiguous harmonic path that is a hallmark of sophisticated jazz writing.

Pattern: ♭VII – V – I   Example in C Major: B♭ – G – C

Genre: jazz   Difficulty: advanced

Choose a Key

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

Song Examples