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Chord progression · C♯ major

The Mixolydian rock progression (I–♭VII–IV–I) in C♯ 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 C♯ major
C♯→B→F♯→C♯
Numerals
I♭VIIIVI

Play along

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

1C♯I
2B♭VII
3F♯IV
4C♯I

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

The chords

I C♯
4fr×1C♯2G♯3C♯4E♯1G♯
1G♯2C♯3E♯4C♯
C4E♯C♯G♯C♯ E♯ G♯
♭VII B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC4D♯F♯B D♯ F♯
IV F♯
1F♯3C♯4F♯2A♯1C♯1F♯
4A♯1C♯3F♯2A♯
C4A♯C♯F♯F♯/A♯

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 C♯ 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