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Chord progression · A♭ major

The Mixolydian rock progression (I–♭VII–IV–I) in A♭ major

Borrows the ♭VII chord from the Mixolydian mode for a big, open classic-rock sound. The ♭VII–IV–I movement sounds great with power chords too.

Heard in “Sweet Child o’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses (verse) and many more.

Chords in A♭ major
A♭→G♭→D♭→A♭
Numerals
I♭VIIIVI

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1A♭I
2G♭♭VII
3D♭IV
4A♭I

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

I A♭
4fr1A♭3E♭4A♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭2E♭4A♭3C
CA♭E♭A♭ C E♭
♭VII G♭
1G♭3D♭4G♭2B♭1D♭1G♭
4B♭1D♭3G♭2B♭
C4G♭B♭D♭G♭ B♭ D♭
IV D♭
4fr×1D♭2A♭3D♭4F1A♭
1A♭2D♭3F4D♭
FC4A♭D♭D♭/F

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.

I–♭VII–IV–I in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in A♭ major

I–V–vi–IVI–IV–V–IVI–vi–IV–Vvi–IV–I–V12-bar bluesii–V–II–vi–ii–VI–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V