Chord progression · E♭ major

The pop progression (I–V–vi–IV) in E♭ 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 E♭ major
E♭→B♭→Cm→A♭
Numerals
IVviIV

Play along

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

1E♭I
2B♭V
3Cmvi
4A♭IV

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

The chords

I E♭
6fr×1E♭2B♭3E♭4G1B♭
G3E♭4G1B♭
C4GC5E♭B♭E♭ G B♭
V B♭
×1B♭2F3B♭4D1F
3B♭2D1F1B♭
C4DFC5B♭B♭/D
vi Cm
×3C1E♭G2C4G
G1E♭1G1C
C4GCE♭Cm/E♭
IV A♭
4fr1A♭3E♭4A♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭2E♭4A♭3C
C4CE♭A♭A♭/E♭

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.