I–vi–IV–V (the ’50s progression) · A♭ major

A♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭

IA♭ · A♭ C E♭

viFm · F A♭ C

IVD♭ · D♭ F A♭

VE♭ · E♭ G B♭

A♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭: the doo-wop changes, under “Stand by Me” and a whole decade of ballads. In A♭ major they are I, vi, IV and V.

Smooth voicings — root in the left hand

The right hand takes whichever inversion is nearest, so it moves by a step or two instead of jumping.

A♭ I · root position

1 · 3 · 5 over A♭ in the bass

Fm vi · first inversion

♭3 · 5 · 1 over F in the bass

D♭ IV · second inversion

5 · 1 · 3 over D♭ in the bass

E♭ V · second inversion

5 · 1 · 3 over E♭ in the bass

Why it works

I and vi share two notes, so does vi with IV, and V leads straight back to I: the bass walks down a third, down a third, up a step and home.

I–vi–IV–V in every key

C major D♭ major D major E♭ major E major F major F♯ major G major A♭ major A major B♭ major B major

More progressions in A♭

ii–V–I in A♭ major ii–V–i in G♯ minor I–V–vi–IV in A♭ major vi–IV–I–V in A♭ major I–IV–V in A♭ major

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