Chord progression · B♭ major

The Mixolydian rock progression (I–♭VII–IV–I) in B♭ 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 B♭ major
B♭→A♭→E♭→B♭
Numerals
I♭VIIIVI

Play along

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

1B♭I
2A♭♭VII
3E♭IV
4B♭I

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

The chords

I B♭
×1B♭2F3B♭4D1F
3B♭2D1F1B♭
C4DFB♭B♭ D F
♭VII A♭
4fr1A♭3E♭4A♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭2E♭4A♭3C
CA♭E♭A♭ C E♭
IV E♭
6fr×1E♭2B♭3E♭4G1B♭
G3E♭4G1B♭
GC4B♭E♭E♭/G

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.