Classic Rock Progressions

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Classic Rock Progressions
(I-bVII-IV)

"The [I-bVII-IV] "E-D-A" Clasic Rock Progression follows the Circle of Fifths movement and the chords are usually played without embellishment. Examples of 1960s and 1970s Classic Rock can be found in The Shadows Of Knight’s 1966 Gloria, Boston’s 1976 More Than A Feeling, and Roy Orbison’s 1989 You Got It." (Excerpt from Money Chords - A Songwriter's Sourcebook of Popular Chord Progressions © 2000 by Richard J. Scott)

Other popular Classic Rock Progression variations include the bVII-IV-I [D-A-E], I-IV-bVII-IV [E-A-D-A], I-bIII-IV-I [E-G-A-E], and I-bVII [E-D] changes. The main characteristic of a Classic Rock Progression is the use of "Borrowed Chords" from another key, in particular the bIII, bVI, or bVII chords to create an overall Blues feel.

Click below for the best in free Classic Rock Progression lessons available on the web.

Lessons

The I-bIII-IV and I-IV-bIII Progression (Olav Torvund)

The I-bVII Progression (Olav Torvund)

Modal Borrowing (The Muse's Muse)

The Buddy Holly Chord (Olav Torvund)

Classic Rock Styles (AccessRock)

Resources

Classic Rock (About.com)

Top 1000 Classic Rock Songs