Mandolin · Level 2 · First steps
The four-chord pop progression in A♭ major on Mandolin
Don’t just read about The four-chord pop progression in A♭ major. Play it.
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I–V–vi–IV is the most-used progression in modern pop. Once it is comfortable in one key you can play along with a large share of the charts.
A♭
Notes: A♭ · C · E♭
E♭
Notes: E♭ · G · B♭
Fm
Notes: F · A♭ · C
D♭
Notes: D♭ · F · A♭
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: A♭, E♭, Fm and D♭. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Mandolin frets are close together, so reach with the fingertips and press each pair of strings evenly.
- Set the tempo to 48 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Loop the four bars without a pause between the last chord and the first.
- Strum down on every beat, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- Raise the tempo to 64 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a steady pulse across the loop point.
Listen for
Aim for a steady pulse across the loop point. A common mistake is accenting the first bar so much that the loop sounds like it restarts.
Why it works
Starting on I and ending on IV leaves the phrase slightly open, which invites the loop to repeat.
A♭ major has 4 flats; its relative minor key is F minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–V–vi–IV in A♭ major?
In A♭ major the progression is A♭ | E♭ | Fm | D♭.
What is the key signature of A♭ major?
A♭ major has 4 flats. Its relative minor is F minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 2 lesson (first steps). If it feels too hard, start with “The fifties progression”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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