i–VII–VI–VII

The minor loop — dark and circling, without an ending.

Degrees: i–VII–VI–VII
Mode: minor
Bars: 4
In A minor: Am – G – F – G

The progression in A minor

In all twelve keys

The same degrees, shifted twelve times. To move a song into another key, read off the row.

Key	i	VII	VI	VII
A minor	Am	G	F	G
E minor	Em	D	C	D
B minor	Bm	A	G	A
F# minor	F#m	E	D	E
C# minor	C#m	B	A	B
G# minor	G#m	F#	E	F#
D minor	Dm	C	Bb	C
G minor	Gm	F	Eb	F
C minor	Cm	Bb	Ab	Bb
F minor	Fm	Eb	Db	Eb
Bb minor	Bbm	Ab	Gb	Ab
Eb minor	Ebm	Db	Cb	Db

Why it sounds that way

Like the Andalusian cadence, but without the major ending on the fifth degree. Instead of arriving it returns to the tonic through the seventh, so it never ends — it only begins again.

Where you hear it

Stairway to Heaven (Zwischenteil)
All Along the Watchtower
Losing My Religion — R.E.M.

Related progressions

i–VII–VI–VThe Andalusian cadence vi–IV–I–VThe same four, starting minor

Anotona does this for you

Photograph a page of sheet music or play the melody — Anotona finds the key, engraves the notes and transposes them into any other. Free.

See Anotona

Every note on this page is computed, not typed in — following the rule that also makes F# major spell its seventh degree E#, not F.