i–♭III–iv–V

The i–♭III–iv–V progression moves through the relative major and subdominant minor before landing on a dominant V. This creates a winding harmonic journey that resolves with strong pull back to the tonic. It appears in many pop-rock ballads and dramatic film cues.

Pattern: i – ♭III – iv – V   Example in A Minor: Am – C – Dm – E

Genre: pop, rock   Difficulty: intermediate

Choose a Key

A Minor Am – C – Dm – E E Minor Em – G – Am – B B Minor Bm – D – Em – F♯ F♯ Minor F♯m – A – Bm – C♯ C♯ Minor C♯m – E – F♯m – G♯ G♯ Minor G♯m – B – C♯m – D♯ D Minor Dm – F – Gm – A G Minor Gm – B♭ – Cm – D C Minor Cm – E♭ – Fm – G F Minor Fm – A♭ – Bbm – C B♭ Minor Bbm – D♭ – Ebm – F E♭ Minor Ebm – G♭ – Abm – B♭

Song Examples