North Coast Synthesis Ltd.

Avoiding the key

This progression is meant to point strongly at a major key without ever actually hitting that chord. In this case it's D-Fsus2-C-Am, pointing at the key of G, more generally it's V-♭VIIsus2-IV-ii. Note that the flat-seventh chord root is out of key, but the added second in that chord actually is the key note, so this chord doesn't jump out as being chromatic. PDF sheet music.