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

1BI
2A♭VII
3EIV
4BI

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

The chords

I B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC4D♯F♯B D♯ F♯
♭VII A
×A1E2A3C♯E
2A1C♯EA
AC4EC♯A C♯ E
IV E
E2B3E1G♯BE
1G♯4EE2B
BC4EG♯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.