Chord progression · A♭ major

The pop progression (I–V–vi–IV) in A♭ major

Probably the most-used progression in modern pop. It starts home, lifts to V, dips into the minor vi for a touch of emotion, then eases back through IV.

Heard in “Let It Be” – The Beatles, “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey, “No Woman, No Cry” – Bob Marley and many more.

Chords in A♭ major
A♭→E♭→Fm→D♭
Numerals
IVviIV

Play along

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

1A♭I
2E♭V
3Fmvi
4D♭IV

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♭
V E♭
6fr×1E♭2B♭3E♭4G1B♭
G3E♭4G1B♭
GC4B♭E♭E♭/G
vi Fm
1F3C4F1A♭1C1F
1A♭C2F3C
CFA♭Fm/A♭
IV D♭
4fr×1D♭2A♭3D♭4F1A♭
1A♭2D♭3F4D♭
C4FA♭D♭D♭/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.