vi–IV–I–V · A♭ major

Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭

viFm · F A♭ C

IVD♭ · D♭ F A♭

IA♭ · A♭ C E♭

VE♭ · E♭ G B♭

Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭: the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, started on the minor one. The Cranberries’ “Zombie” turns on this order. In A♭ major they are vi, IV, I 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.

Fm vi · root position

1 · ♭3 · 5 over F in the bass

D♭ IV · first inversion

3 · 5 · 1 over D♭ in the bass

A♭ I · second inversion

5 · 1 · 3 over A♭ in the bass

E♭ V · root position

1 · 3 · 5 over E♭ in the bass

Why it works

Starting on the minor chord makes the whole loop sound minor and searching, though not one chord has changed — the order of the same four chords is the whole difference.

vi–IV–I–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 I–vi–IV–V in A♭ major I–IV–V in A♭ major

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