Chord progression · F major

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

Play along

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

1FI
2E♭♭VII
3B♭IV
4FI

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

The chords

I F
1F3C4F2A1C1F
2AC1FA
C4FACF A C
♭VII E♭
6fr×1E♭2B♭3E♭4G1B♭
G3E♭4G1B♭
C4GC5E♭B♭E♭ G B♭
IV B♭
×1B♭2F3B♭4D1F
3B♭2D1F1B♭
C4DFC5B♭B♭/D

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.