Disco · Intermediate · minor key
Minor circle of fifths
i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i — Every chord in the minor key, falling in fifths. Also called the "Autumn Leaves" cycle.
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 – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i — in A minor that is Am – Dm – G – C – F – Bdim – E – Am. 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).
- ♭VI — a major chord borrowed from the minor key: epic and dramatic.
- ii° — the diminished two of a minor key, leading to V.
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
Minor circle of fifths in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmDmGCFBdimEAm | Looper |
| E minor | EmAmDGCF#dimBEm | Looper |
| B minor | BmEmADGC#dimF#Bm | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mBmEADG#dimC#F#m | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mF#mBEAD#dimG#C#m | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mC#mGbBEA#dimD#G#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmAbmDbGbBFdimBbEbm | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmEbmAbDbGbCdimFBbm | Looper |
| F minor | FmBbmEbAbDbGdimCFm | Looper |
| C minor | CmFmBbEbAbDdimGCm | Looper |
| G minor | GmCmFBbEbAdimDGm | Looper |
| D minor | DmGmCFBbEdimADm | Looper |
Songs that use it
- I Will Survive — Gloria Gaynor
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
- "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 ii–V to the relative major iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7
- i–♭VI–♭III–V i – ♭VI – ♭III – V
- Minor ballad (i–iv–♭VII–♭III) i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III
- i–♭VI–iv–V7 i – ♭VI – iv – V7
← "Hotel California" progression · Minor ii–V–i chain ("Autumn Leaves") →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i progression?
In A minor: Am – Dm – G – C – F – Bdim – E – Am. In C major / A minor: Am – Dm – G – C – F – Bdim – E – Am. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i 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 minor circle of fifths?
For example: I Will Survive — Gloria Gaynor.