Rock · Beginner · minor key
i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII
i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII — A hypnotic minor rock loop that rocks back and forth without resolving.
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 – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII — in A minor that is Am – G – F – G. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home chord.
- ♭VII — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
- ♭VI — a major chord borrowed from the minor key: epic and dramatic.
i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmGFG | Looper |
| E minor | EmDCD | Looper |
| B minor | BmAGA | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mEDE | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mBAB | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mGbEGb | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmDbBDb | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmAbGbAb | Looper |
| F minor | FmEbDbEb | Looper |
| C minor | CmBbAbBb | Looper |
| G minor | GmFEbF | Looper |
| D minor | DmCBbC | Looper |
Songs that use it
- All Along the Watchtower — Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix
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 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–♭VI–♭VII–i stepping bass i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII
- i–♭VI–♭VII i – ♭VI – ♭VII – i
- i–♭VII–♭VI–♭III i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭III
- "Hotel California" progression i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V
- i–♭III–♭VII–i i – ♭III – ♭VII – i
- Two-chord minor vamp (i–♭VII) i – ♭VII
← Minor-key axis (i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII) · Minor three-chord (i–iv–v) →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII progression?
In E minor: Em – D – C – D. In C major / A minor: Am – G – F – G. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭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.
What songs use the i–♭vii–♭vi–♭vii?
For example: All Along the Watchtower — Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix.