A Backdoor Cadence
iv – ♭VII – I progression in A major
A Backdoor Cadence — iv – ♭VII – I
The A Backdoor Cadence (Dm – G – A) resolves to the tonic through the "back door" — a minor iv chord followed by a ♭VII7, bypassing the usual dominant V–I. This unexpected approach produces a smoky, soulful resolution central to jazz and R&B harmony. With seventh chord voicings (Dm7 – G7 – AMaj7), the backdoor quality is even more pronounced.