Metal · Beginner · minor key
Minor ♭VI–♭VII–i resolution
♭VI – ♭VII – i – i — The power-metal "victory" cadence in a minor key.
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 ♭VI – ♭VII – i – i — in A minor that is F – G – Am – Am. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- ♭VI — a major chord borrowed from the minor key: epic and dramatic.
- ♭VII — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
- i — the minor home chord.
Minor ♭VI–♭VII–i resolution in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | FGAmAm | Looper |
| E minor | CDEmEm | Looper |
| B minor | GABmBm | Looper |
| F# minor | DEF#mF#m | Looper |
| C# minor | ABC#mC#m | Looper |
| G# minor | EGbG#mG#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | BDbEbmEbm | Looper |
| Bb minor | GbAbBbmBbm | Looper |
| F minor | DbEbFmFm | Looper |
| C minor | AbBbCmCm | Looper |
| G minor | EbFGmGm | Looper |
| D minor | BbCDmDm | 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
- Metal power chords (i–♭VI–♭VII) i5 – ♭VI5 – ♭VII5 – i5
- i–♭VII–♭VI–♭III i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭III
- i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII
- i–♭VI–♭VII–♭III i – ♭VI – ♭VII – ♭III
- Epic minor (i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII) i – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII
- i–♭VI–♭VII i – ♭VI – ♭VII – i
← Dorian i–ii–♭III–ii · i–♭VI–♭III–V →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the ♭VI – ♭VII – i – i progression?
In E minor: C – D – Em – Em. In C major / A minor: F – G – Am – Am. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play ♭VI – ♭VII – i – i on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.