i–♭III–♭VI–V in A Minor

Pattern: i – ♭III – ♭VI – V Chords: Am – C – F – E

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
i	Am (details)	minor	Tonic
♭III	C (details)	major	Mediant
♭VI	F (details)	major	Submediant
V	E (details)	major	Dominant

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through Am (Tonic) → C (Mediant) → F (Submediant) → E (Dominant).

The i–♭III–♭VI–V progression moves through the natural minor's major chords before resolving with a harmonic minor dominant. The stepwise root motion from ♭III to ♭VI creates a cascading, flowing quality. This combination of modal wandering and dominant resolution appears in many emotional pop and rock songs.

Song Examples

Somebody That I Used to Know — Gotye
Creep — Radiohead

Chord Details

Am C F E

More Progressions in A Minor

i–♭VII–♭VI–V i–iv–v vi–IV–I–V i–iv–i–V iv–iv–i–V i–iv–i i–iv–V vi–V–IV–III i–♭VII i–♭III–♭VII i–♭VII–IV i–♭VII–♭VI