i - VII - VI - iv Chord Progression

Natural minor cadence. Softer resolution — ends on subdominant instead of dominant.

Select a key below to see the progression transposed. Click any chord to open its diagram and fingering.

Chords in the key of Am:

AmGFDm

Chord diagrams — click to open fingering

BPM

One chord per bar (4/4). Loops until you pause.

Natural minor scale in Am

Highlighted chords appear in this progression.

  • Ami
  • Bdimii°
  • CIII
  • Dmiv
  • Emv
  • FVI
  • GVII

Practice improvisation

Jam session: try soloing with the built-in progression player, or use a metronome to lock in your timing.

For a simple rule that usually sounds good, match the root of the scale to the key you chose above (Am): use A minor pentatonic. The notes line up with that tonal center so your lines feel connected to the chords. Borrowed or altered chords can add color, but this minor pentatonic is still a reliable starting point for practice.

A minor pentatonic, position 1

EADGBe56789
Root notes in blue; other scale tones in dark gray.

Open A minor pentatonic on the interactive fretboard

All keys at a glance

This progression works in all twelve keys — here are the chords for each.

i - VII - VI - iv in natural keys
KeyiVIIVIiv
AmAmGFDm
BmBmAGEm
CmCmBbAbFm
DmDmCBbGm
EmEmDCAm
FmFmEbDbBbm
GmGmFEbCm
Show all 12 keys
i - VII - VI - iv in enharmonic keys
KeyiVIIVIiv
A#m/BbmBbmA#mAbG#GbF#EbmD#m
C#m/DbmC#mDbmBAF#mGbm
D#m/EbmEbmD#mDbC#BAbmG#m
F#m/GbmF#mGbmEDBm
G#m/AbmAbmG#mGbF#EDbmC#m

Songs that use this progression

  • Scarborough Fair
  • The Sounds of Silence

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