Rock · Advanced · minor key
"Hotel California" progression
i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V — Eight chords that wind through the minor key with two major V chords — moody and Spanish-tinged.
Easiest guitar key: A minor
Chord shapes in A 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 – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V — in A minor that is Am – E – G – D – F – C – Dm – E. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home chord.
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
- ♭VII — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
- IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
- ♭VI — a major chord borrowed from the minor key: epic and dramatic.
- ♭III — a major chord borrowed from the minor key (the relative major in a minor key).
- iv — the minor four chord: darker and more emotional.
"Hotel California" progression in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmEGDFCDmE | Looper |
| E minor | EmBDACGAmB | Looper |
| B minor | BmF#AEGDEmF# | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mC#EBDABmC# | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mG#BF#AEF#mG# | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mD#GbC#EBC#mD# | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmBbDbAbBGbAbmBb | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmFAbEbGbDbEbmF | Looper |
| F minor | FmCEbBbDbAbBbmC | Looper |
| C minor | CmGBbFAbEbFmG | Looper |
| G minor | GmDFCEbBbCmD | Looper |
| D minor | DmACGBbFGmA | Looper |
Songs that use it
- Hotel California — Eagles
Song examples use this progression (or a very close variant) in at least one main section; keys and voicings differ.
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 A 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 A minor pentatonic or A natural minor or A 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 ii–V–i chain ("Autumn Leaves") iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i
- Minor circle of fifths i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i
- i–♭III–♭VII–IV i – ♭III – ♭VII – IV
- i–♭VII–♭VI–♭III i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭III
- i–♭III–♭VI–V7 i – ♭III – ♭VI – V7
- i–♭III–iv–♭VI i – ♭III – iv – ♭VI
← "House of the Rising Sun" progression · Minor circle of fifths →
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Questions
What chords are in the i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V progression?
In A minor: Am – E – G – D – F – C – Dm – E. In C major / A minor: Am – E – G – D – F – C – Dm – E. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V on guitar?
A minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.
What songs use the "hotel california" progression?
For example: Hotel California — Eagles.