Super Simple Chords

Chord progression

The i–bVI7–V7–i chord progression

Am – F7 – E7 – Am in Am. 14 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 Am. Each chord on the keys:

AmiF7bVI7E7V7Ami

In every key

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

KeyibVI7V7i
CmCmAb7G7Cm
C#mC#mA7G#7C#m
DmDmBb7A7Dm
D#mD#mB7A#7D#m
EmEmC7B7Em
FmFmDb7C7Fm
F#mF#mD7C#7F#m
GmGmEb7D7Gm
G#mG#mE7D#7G#m
AmAmF7E7Am
BbmBbmGb7F7Bbm
BmBmG7F#7Bm

Songs that go round it

14 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–bVI7–V7–i

What is the i–bVI7–V7–i chord progression?

A loop of 4 chords: Am – F7 – E7 – Am in Am. 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–bVI7–V7–i progression?

14 songs in the library repeat it, including Arabian Nights (from Aladdin: The Broadway Musical), Big Spender, One Jump Ahead, Russian Lullaby and Steppin' Out With My Baby.

How do I play i–bVI7–V7–i on piano?

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