Pop · Beginner · minor key
Minor-key axis (i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII)
i – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII — The pop axis heard from the minor chord: powerful and emotional. Huge in rock and EDM.
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 – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII — in A minor that is Am – F – C – G. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home 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).
- ♭VII — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
Minor-key axis (i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII) in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmFCG | Looper |
| E minor | EmCGD | Looper |
| B minor | BmGDA | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mDAE | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mAEB | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mEBGb | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmBGbDb | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmGbDbAb | Looper |
| F minor | FmDbAbEb | Looper |
| C minor | CmAbEbBb | Looper |
| G minor | GmEbBbF | Looper |
| D minor | DmBbFC | 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
- i–♭III–♭VI–♭VII i – ♭III – ♭VI – ♭VII
- i–♭III–♭VII–♭VI i – ♭III – ♭VII – ♭VI
- i–♭VI–♭VII–♭III i – ♭VI – ♭VII – ♭III
- i–iv–♭VI–♭VII i – iv – ♭VI – ♭VII
- i–♭VI–♭VII–v i – ♭VI – ♭VII – v
- i–v–♭VI–♭VII i – v – ♭VI – ♭VII
← Andalusian cadence · i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII progression?
In E minor: Em – C – G – D. In C major / A minor: Am – F – C – G. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.