i - iv - V

Also known as a minor-key cadence.

The minor equivalent of the three-chord trick. The V is played as a major chord here rather than the minor v that would occur naturally in the scale, borrowing the raised leading tone from the harmonic minor scale to give the move back to i a much stronger pull.

Hear it in different keys

In A minor

im Am ivm Dm V E

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In D minor

im Dm ivm Gm V A

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Heard in

Famous songs built on this progression. Learn the loop above and you can play along with them.

Black Magic Woman — Santana
Evil Ways — Santana

Each key above has a MIDI download with every chord played back to back, ready to drop into any DAW or notation program.

Roman numerals show scale degree and quality: uppercase for major, lowercase for minor, a small circle for diminished. Tap any chord above to open its full page, with a diagram and playback.