The im bVII bVI Chord Progression
When learning how to play guitar, we are usually introduced to common open-position chords, such as F, D, C7 and Em, as well as chord progressions to some of our favorite songs that use these chords in their make up.
While working on these chords and progressions, one of the most popular groups of chords is the im-bVII-bVI progression, which can be heard in many classic songs, some of which are listed below.
In today’s lesson we’ll be looking at how you build a im-bVII-bVI chord progression, as well as 10 classic songs that use this chord progression in their construction.
What Is the im bVII bVI Chord Progression?
To begin, let’s take a look at how you build a im bVII bVI chord progression, and how it relates to the Natural Minor Scale.
As you can see below, there are 7 notes in the Natural Minor Scale. The intervals for these notes as compared to the root note are:
1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7
In the key of A Natural Minor, as written out below, those notes are:
A B C D E F G A
To build a im-bVII-bVI chord progression, you take the 1st, 6th and 7th notes of the Natural Minor Scale, stack 2 thirds on top of them, and you have built the chords for this progression.
In the key of A Natural Minor, those chords would be Am, G and F, and here is that process on paper.
And here are those three chords written out in chart form.
Now that you have a basic introduction to this chord progression, let’s take a look at a number of classic songs that use these chords in their construction.
Songs With im bVII bVI Chords
Even if you haven’t heard of the im bVII bVI chord progression before from a theory standpoint, you have no doubt heard countless famous songs that use these three chords.
Here is a list of 7 im bVII bVI songs to get you started with this applying this chord progression to the fretboard.
Some of them use this chord progression only, and with others it’s mixed into parts of the song so you can hear this progression in a variety of classic setting.
All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix
Stairway to Heaven (outro solo) - Led Zeppelin
Don’t Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Carry On My Wayward Son - Kansas
Dream On - Aerosmith
The Trooper - Iron Maiden
Love Song - The Cure
Do you have a favorite im bVII bVI song? Share it in the comments thread below and let’s fill up this list!
Test Your Theory Chops
Now that you have learned where the im bVII bVI chord progression comes from, and checked out 10 songs that use the im bVII bVI chord progression, let’s test you knowledge with a few theory question regarding these 3 chords.
If you decide to answer these questions, post them below and I can check your work, using the “spoiler” button to the left of this box as not to give away your answers.
Here is a chord progression that uses the im, bVII and bVI chords. How many keys can you write out using these chords? Post your answer(s) below.
Do you have a question or comment about im bVII bVI Chords? Share your thoughts in the comment thread below.
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