Rock · Beginner · major key
Power-chord I–IV–♭III–♭VI
I5 – IV5 – ♭III5 – ♭VI5 — Four power chords mixing major and minor-key roots: raw 90s alternative rock.
Chord shapes in A major (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 I5 – IV5 – ♭III5 – ♭VI5 — in C major that is C5 – F5 – Eb5 – Ab5. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- I5 — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
- IV5 — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
- ♭III5 — a major chord borrowed from the minor key (the relative major in a minor key).
- ♭VI5 — a major chord borrowed from the minor key: epic and dramatic.
Power-chord I–IV–♭III–♭VI in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | C5F5Eb5Ab5 | Looper |
| G major | G5C5Bb5Eb5 | Looper |
| D major | D5G5F5Bb5 | Looper |
| A major | A5D5C5F5 | Looper |
| E major | E5A5G5C5 | Looper |
| B major | B5E5D5G5 | Looper |
| F# major | F#5B5A5D5 | Looper |
| Db major | Db5Gb5E5A5 | Looper |
| Ab major | Ab5Db5B5E5 | Looper |
| Eb major | Eb5Ab5Gb5B5 | Looper |
| Bb major | Bb5Eb5Db5Gb5 | Looper |
| F major | F5Bb5Ab5Db5 | Looper |
Songs that use it
- Smells Like Teen Spirit — Nirvana
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 major 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 major pentatonic or A major 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–IV–I I – ♭III – IV – I
- Power-chord I–♭III–IV I5 – ♭III5 – IV5 – I5
- I–♭III–♭VII–IV I – ♭III – ♭VII – IV
- I–V–IV–I classic rock I – V – IV – I
- I–V–IV–V I – V – IV – V
- Power-chord I–♭VI–♭VII I5 – ♭VI5 – ♭VII5 – I5
← Jazz blues · Punk I–V–vi–IV (power chords) →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the I5 – IV5 – ♭III5 – ♭VI5 progression?
In A major: A5 – D5 – C5 – F5. In C major / A minor: C5 – F5 – Eb5 – Ab5. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I5 – IV5 – ♭III5 – ♭VI5 on guitar?
A major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.
What songs use the power-chord i–iv–♭iii–♭vi?
For example: Smells Like Teen Spirit — Nirvana.