PROGRESSION · I–♭VII–IV
The Mixolydian Rock Progression
A major-key progression with a chord that is not in the major key. The ♭VII is borrowed, and it is the whole point. Also called the double plagal, or the flat seven progression.
In C major
C – Bb – F — swaggering, open, rootsy, around 112 BPM.
Why it works
Lowering the seventh degree removes the leading tone, and with it the strongest pull back to the tonic. What replaces it is plagal motion: ♭VII to IV is a fourth up, IV to I is a fourth up again — two subdominant steps stacked, which is why it is called a double plagal. The result feels grounded rather than driven, because nothing is straining to resolve.
Where you'll hear it
Classic rock, blues-rock and anything that wants to sound like a riff rather than a chord chart. Works especially well when the melody uses the ♭7 too.
I–♭VII–IV in every key
The same progression transposed. The roman numerals never change — that is the whole point of writing progressions this way.
| Key | I | bVII | IV |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Bb | F |
| Db | Db | B | Gb |
| D | D | C | G |
| Eb | Eb | Db | Ab |
| E | E | D | A |
| F | F | Eb | Bb |
| F# | F# | E | B |
| G | G | F | C |
| Ab | Ab | Gb | Db |
| A | A | G | D |
| Bb | Bb | Ab | Eb |
| B | B | A | E |
Related progressions
Drill the chords behind I–♭VII–IV
Build every chord in this progression from its symbol, against the clock.
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