Bb Major Chord Progressions for Piano

Bb Major functions as the tonic — the harmonic "home" — in the key of Bb Major. Every progression below resolves back to Bb because it is the point of rest your ear expects after the tension of the dominant (F) or subdominant (Eb). This page covers I – IV – V – I, I – V – vi – IV, vi – IV – I – V, and more, with every chord linked to its own page.

Bb Major in Context

Bb Major also plays a role beyond its own key: it is the dominant (V) chord in the key of Eb Major, and the subdominant (IV) chord in the key of F Major. Its relative minor is G Minor, which shares the same key signature and often substitutes for Bb in progressions like vi–IV–I–V.

The Bb Major scale is Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A.

Common Bb Major Progressions

I – IV – V – I

Beginner-friendly

A classic cadence that moves from tonic to subdominant to dominant and back home. It is one of the strongest harmonic patterns in Western music.

I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F IV · SubdominantEb MajorEb – G – Bb V · DominantF MajorF – A – C I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F

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I – V – vi – IV

Beginner-friendly

One of the most common progressions in popular music. It combines tonic stability, dominant movement, relative minor emotion, and subdominant resolution.

I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F V · DominantF MajorF – A – C vi · SubmediantG MinorG – Bb – D IV · SubdominantEb MajorEb – G – Bb

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vi – IV – I – V

Beginner-friendly

Often called the “axis” progression. Starting on the relative minor gives the line a more emotional, introspective feel before resolving toward the dominant.

vi · SubmediantG MinorG – Bb – D IV · SubdominantEb MajorEb – G – Bb I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F V · DominantF MajorF – A – C

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ii – V – I

Next step

A foundational progression in jazz and many other styles. It creates strong movement back to the tonic chord through the supertonic and dominant.

ii · SupertonicC MinorC – Eb – G V · DominantF MajorF – A – C I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F

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I – vi – IV – V

Beginner-friendly

A timeless “50s” progression that balances major-key brightness with the warmth of the relative minor before moving through subdominant and dominant.

I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F vi · SubmediantG MinorG – Bb – D IV · SubdominantEb MajorEb – G – Bb V · DominantF MajorF – A – C

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I – IV – vi – V

Beginner-friendly

A gentle pop progression that keeps the harmony diatonic while highlighting the contrast between major and relative minor chords.

I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F IV · SubdominantEb MajorEb – G – Bb vi · SubmediantG MinorG – Bb – D V · DominantF MajorF – A – C

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12-Bar Blues

Next step

The backbone of blues, rock, and jazz. Twelve measures built from tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords create a repeating form you can solo over for hours.

Full 12-bar sequence: I – I – I – I – IV – IV – I – I – V – IV – I – V

I · TonicBb MajorBb – D – F IV · SubdominantEb MajorEb – G – Bb V · DominantF MajorF – A – C

This triad form matches what Practice Mode and the Progression Trainer drill. Traditional 12-bar blues almost always plays all three chords as dominant sevenths instead of plain triads: Bb7, Eb7, F7.

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Continue learning

Practice Bb Major progressions

Drill these changes with a metronome and randomized prompts, or open the Progression Trainer for a guided run-through in Bb Major.