Rock · Intermediate · minor key
i–IV–i–♭VII (Dorian rock)
i – IV – i – ♭VII — Dorian colour with a laid-back classic-rock feel.
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 – i – ♭VII — in A minor that is Am – D – Am – G. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home chord.
- IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
- ♭VII — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
i–IV–i–♭VII (Dorian rock) in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmDAmG | Looper |
| E minor | EmAEmD | Looper |
| B minor | BmEBmA | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mBF#mE | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mF#C#mB | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mC#G#mGb | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmAbEbmDb | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmEbBbmAb | Looper |
| F minor | FmBbFmEb | Looper |
| C minor | CmFCmBb | Looper |
| G minor | GmCGmF | Looper |
| D minor | DmGDmC | 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–♭VII–IV–i (Dorian) i – ♭VII – IV – i
- i–♭III–♭VII–IV i – ♭III – ♭VII – IV
- "Hotel California" progression i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V
- i–♭VI–♭VII i – ♭VI – ♭VII – i
- i–♭III–♭VII–i i – ♭III – ♭VII – i
- i–♭VII–♭VI–♭III i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭III
← Minor 7th soul loop (i7–iv7–♭VII7–♭IIImaj7) · Ambient sus loop (i–♭VIsus2–♭III–♭VIIsus4) →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – IV – i – ♭VII progression?
In E minor: Em – A – Em – D. In C major / A minor: Am – D – Am – G. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – IV – i – ♭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.