C Backdoor Cadence
iv – ♭VII – I progression in C major
C Backdoor Cadence — iv – ♭VII – I
The C Backdoor Cadence (Fm – Bb – C) 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 (Fm7 – Bb7 – CMaj7), the backdoor quality is even more pronounced.