Chord progression · D♭ major

The pop progression (I–V–vi–IV) in D♭ 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 D♭ major
D♭→A♭→B♭m→G♭
Numerals
IVviIV

Play along

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

1D♭I
2A♭V
3B♭mvi
4G♭IV

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

The chords

I D♭
4fr×1D♭2A♭3D♭4F1A♭
1A♭2D♭3F4D♭
C4FD♭A♭D♭ F A♭
V A♭
4fr1A♭3E♭4A♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭2E♭4A♭3C
CE♭A♭A♭/C
vi B♭m
×1B♭3F4B♭2D♭1F
3B♭1D♭1F1B♭
C4FD♭B♭B♭m/D♭
IV G♭
1G♭3D♭4G♭2B♭1D♭1G♭
4B♭1D♭3G♭2B♭
C4D♭G♭B♭G♭/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.