Mandolin · Level 8 · Advanced

The backdoor progression on Mandolin

iv7–♭VII7–Imaj7 in all 12 keys.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

The backdoor progression reaches I from ♭VII7 instead of V7, for a gentle, surprising resolution heard in jazz standards and soul.

Choose a key

C majorFm7 · B♭7 · Cmaj7 · Cmaj7D♭ majorG♭m7 · B7 · D♭maj7 · D♭maj7D majorGm7 · C7 · Dmaj7 · Dmaj7E♭ majorA♭m7 · D♭7 · E♭maj7 · E♭maj7E majorAm7 · D7 · Emaj7 · Emaj7F majorB♭m7 · E♭7 · Fmaj7 · Fmaj7F♯ majorBm7 · E7 · F♯maj7 · F♯maj7G majorCm7 · F7 · Gmaj7 · Gmaj7A♭ majorD♭m7 · G♭7 · A♭maj7 · A♭maj7A majorDm7 · G7 · Amaj7 · Amaj7B♭ majorE♭m7 · A♭7 · B♭maj7 · B♭maj7B majorEm7 · A7 · Bmaj7 · Bmaj7

Listen first: C major

Fm7

F minor seventh

Notes: F · A♭ · C · E♭

GDAE♭♭

B♭7

B♭ dominant seventh

Notes: B♭ · D · F · A♭

3frGDAE♭♭

Cmaj7

C major seventh

Notes: C · E · G · B

GDAE
1
Fm7
2
B♭7
3
Cmaj7
4
Cmaj7

Why it works

Both iv7 and ♭VII7 are borrowed from the parallel minor; together they act as a ii–V aimed at I from below.

On another instrument

The backdoor progression on Guitar →The backdoor progression on Piano →The backdoor progression on Ukulele →The backdoor progression on Banjo →The backdoor progression on Violin →The backdoor progression on Flute →

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