I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of Gb
The Key of G♭ Major
The chords in the key of G♭ major are G♭, A♭m, B♭m, C♭, D♭, E♭m and Fdim.
Six flats; the flat-side spelling of F# major.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (B♭ · E♭ · A♭ · D♭ · G♭ · C♭), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of G♭ major
Each degree of the G♭ major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | G♭F♯ · A♯ · C♯spelled G♭ in Gb major · the chord page is F♯ Major | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | A♭mG♯ · B · D♯spelled A♭m in Gb major · the chord page is G♯ Minor | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | B♭mB♭ · D♭ · F | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | C♭B · D♯ · F♯spelled C♭ in Gb major · the chord page is B Major | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | D♭D♭ · F · A♭ | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | E♭mE♭ · G♭ · B♭ | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | FdimF · A♭ · C♭ |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in G♭ major
Gb major sounds identical to F# major — which spelling you see depends entirely on where the music came from. Flat-side instruments and piano writing prefer Gb; guitar parts and sharp-side modulations prefer F#. The notes under your fingers do not change; only the page does.
Scale
The G♭ major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
This spelling has no separate scale page — the identical pitches are catalogued under F# Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The G♭ major key signature
B♭ · E♭ · A♭ · D♭ · G♭ · C♭
G♭ major is written with 6 flats. Every B, E, A, D, G and C in the music is played flat unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative minor, E♭ minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in G♭ major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into G♭ major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of G♭ major
- What chords are in the key of Gb major?
- The key of Gb major contains seven diatonic chords: Gb (I), Abm (ii), Bbm (iii), Cb (IV), Db (V), Ebm (vi), Fdim (vii°). Most songs in Gb major lean on Gb, Cb and Db — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of Gb major?
- Eb minor is the relative minor of Gb major. Both keys share the same key signature (6 flats) and exactly the same seven notes — Eb minor simply treats Eb as home instead of Gb, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in Gb major to play on guitar?
- Gb major has no open guitar shapes — every diatonic chord needs a barre or a movable grip in standard tuning. Most guitarists capo and play open shapes from an easier key instead.
Learn the theory
Read up on G♭ major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.