Chord progression · E♭ major

The minor-feel pop progression (vi–IV–I–V) in E♭ major

The pop progression started from the minor vi chord, so it feels darker and more urgent while using exactly the same chords.

Heard in “Zombie” – The Cranberries and many more.

Chords in E♭ major
Cm→A♭→E♭→B♭
Numerals
viIVIV

Play along

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

1Cmvi
2A♭IV
3E♭I
4B♭V

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

The chords

vi Cm
×3C1E♭G2C4G
G1E♭1G1C
CGE♭C E♭ G
IV A♭
4fr1A♭3E♭4A♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭2E♭4A♭3C
CE♭A♭A♭/C
I E♭
6fr×1E♭2B♭3E♭4G1B♭
G3E♭4G1B♭
C4GB♭E♭E♭/B♭
V B♭
×1B♭2F3B♭4D1F
3B♭2D1F1B♭
C4DFB♭B♭ D F

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.