i - bII - V - i

Also known as the Neapolitan cadence.

A classical cadence built around the flat second degree. The bII chord adds tension right before the dominant, which makes the return to minor feel dramatic. It started in opera and still turns up in film music and metal intros.

Hear it in different keys

In A minor

im Am bII Bb V E im Am

Download MIDI

In D minor

im Dm bII Eb V A im Dm

Download MIDI

Heard in

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

Because — The Beatles
Do You Want to Know a Secret — The Beatles

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.