Ballad · Intermediate · minor key
Minor ballad (i–iv–♭VII–♭III)
i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III — Falling fifths into the relative major — hopeful by the end.
Chord shapes in E minor (standard tuning)
Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.
How the chords work
Written in Roman numerals, this progression is i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III — in A minor that is Am – Dm – G – C. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home chord.
- iv — the minor four chord: darker and more emotional.
- ♭VII — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
- ♭III — a major chord borrowed from the minor key (the relative major in a minor key).
Minor ballad (i–iv–♭VII–♭III) in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmDmGC | Looper |
| E minor | EmAmDG | Looper |
| B minor | BmEmAD | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mBmEA | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mF#mBE | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mC#mGbB | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmAbmDbGb | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmEbmAbDb | Looper |
| F minor | FmBbmEbAb | Looper |
| C minor | CmFmBbEb | Looper |
| G minor | GmCmFBb | Looper |
| D minor | DmGmCF | Looper |
Practice ideas
- Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
- Change keys with a capo: keep the E minor shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
- Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the E minor pentatonic or E natural minor or E blues scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
- Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.
Similar progressions
- Minor circle of fifths i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i
- Minor ii–V to the relative major iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7
- "Hotel California" progression i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V
- Minor ii–V–i chain ("Autumn Leaves") iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i
- Minor 7th soul loop (i7–iv7–♭VII7–♭IIImaj7) i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7
- i–v–♭VI–iv i – v – ♭VI – iv
← i–♭III–♭VI–V7 · i–iv–♭VI–V →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III progression?
In E minor: Em – Am – D – G. In C major / A minor: Am – Dm – G – C. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.