Ukulele · Level 8 · Advanced
The backdoor progression in E♭ major on Ukulele
Don’t just read about The backdoor progression in E♭ major. Play it.
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The backdoor progression reaches I from ♭VII7 instead of V7, for a gentle, surprising resolution heard in jazz standards and soul.
A♭m7
Notes: A♭ · C♭ · E♭ · G♭
D♭7
Notes: D♭ · F · A♭ · C♭
E♭maj7
Notes: E♭ · G · B♭ · D
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: A♭m7, D♭7 and E♭maj7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Use light pressure; the ukulele's nylon strings need far less force than steel.
- Set the tempo to 69 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Notice how ♭VII7 resolves up by a whole step rather than down a fifth.
- Strum down on every beat, then add an up-strum between beats with a loose wrist.
- Raise the tempo to 92 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a soft landing on Imaj7 without the usual V7 tension.
Listen for
Aim for a soft landing on Imaj7 without the usual V7 tension. A common mistake is treating ♭VII7 as an ordinary V7.
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.
E♭ major has 3 flats; its relative minor key is C minor.
Questions
What are the chords in iv7–♭VII7–Imaj7 in E♭ major?
In E♭ major the progression is A♭m7 | D♭7 | E♭maj7 | E♭maj7.
What is the key signature of E♭ major?
E♭ major has 3 flats. Its relative minor is C minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 8 lesson (advanced). If it feels too hard, start with “Ninth chords”.
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