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

D♭ – B♭m – G♭ – A♭

ID♭ · D♭ F A♭

viB♭m · B♭ D♭ F

IVG♭ · G♭ B♭ D♭

VA♭ · A♭ C E♭

D♭ – B♭m – G♭ – A♭: the doo-wop changes, under “Stand by Me” and a whole decade of ballads. In D♭ 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.

D♭ I · root position

1 · 3 · 5 over D♭ in the bass

B♭m vi · first inversion

♭3 · 5 · 1 over B♭ in the bass

G♭ IV · second inversion

5 · 1 · 3 over G♭ in the bass

A♭ V · first inversion

3 · 5 · 1 over A♭ 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 D♭

ii–V–I in D♭ major ii–V–i in C♯ minor I–V–vi–IV in D♭ major vi–IV–I–V in D♭ major I–IV–V in D♭ major

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