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Chord progression · D♭ major

The ’50s progression (I–vi–IV–V) in D♭ major

The doo-wop progression. The same four chords as the pop progression in a different order, giving it a sweeter, more nostalgic feel.

Heard in “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King, “Earth Angel” – The Penguins and many more.

Chords in D♭ major
D♭→B♭m→G♭→A♭
Numerals
IviIVV

Play along

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

1D♭I
2B♭mvi
3G♭IV
4A♭V

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♭
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♭
V A♭
4fr1A♭3E♭4A♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭2E♭4A♭3C
CE♭A♭A♭/C

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–vi–IV–V in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in D♭ major

I–V–vi–IVI–IV–V–IVvi–IV–I–V12-bar bluesii–V–II–vi–ii–VI–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–VI–♭VII–IV–I