Super Simple Chords

Chord progression

The I–bII–I–bII chord progression

C – Db – C – Db in C. 16 songs in the library go round it. Hear it in any style and key, and see it in all twelve keys.

Tuning the piano…
Style
Key

Want to mix it with other hands?

The loop

4 chords, round and round, in C. Each chord on the keys:

CIDbbIICIDbbII

In every key

Find your song's key on the left: its chords are the row. Each column keeps its colour, whatever the key.

KeyIbIIIbII
CCDbCDb
DbDbDDbD
DDEbDEb
EbEbFbEbFb
EEFEF
FFGbFGb
F#F#GF#G
GGAbGAb
AbAbAAbA
AABbABb
BbBbCbBbCb
BBCBC

Songs that go round it

16 songs, best known first. Rest the mouse on one to hear it.

All of them

Left hands these songs use

The patterns most often played under this loop.

Questions about I–bII–I–bII

What is the I–bII–I–bII chord progression?

A loop of 4 chords: C – Db – C – Db in C. The numerals say each chord's place in the key, so the same loop can be played in any key.

What songs use the I–bII–I–bII progression?

16 songs in the library repeat it, including Willow Weep For Me, Theme From “Star Trek®”, Temptation, Alfie and Dance Of The Floreadores (from 'the Nutcracker Suite').

How do I play I–bII–I–bII on piano?

Hold each chord with the right hand while the left hand plays its root, then swap in a pattern: velvet jazz is the left hand these songs use most. The player above plays it in any style and key.