Harmony
I-V-vi-IV progression
The I-V-vi-IV progression strings together the chords on degrees 1, 5, 6 and 4 of a major key, for example C G Am F in C, the backbone of thousands of pop songs.
What is the I-V-vi-IV progression?
It is the most famous chord progression in pop: tonic, dominant, minor sixth degree, subdominant. In C major: C G Am F. All four are diatonic chords of the key, which is why it sounds so natural.
You hear it in the Beatles' "Let It Be" (C G Am F), U2's "With or Without You" (D A Bm G), Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" (E B C#m A) and Adele's "Someone Like You" (A E F#m D). Two bright major chords with a minor chord in the middle give it that mix of uplift and emotion.
What are the I-V-vi-IV chords in every key?
| Key | I | V | vi | IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | G | Am | F |
| G | G | D | Em | C |
| D | D | A | Bm | G |
| A | A | E | F#m | D |
| E | E | B | C#m | A |
Roman numeral analysis explains it all: vi is the relative minor of I (Am for C, Em for G), which creates the contrast in the middle of the loop.
How to play it on guitar
In G major, with open chords: G (320003), D (xx0232), Em (022000), C (x32010).
Pro tip: keep your ring and little fingers anchored on the 3rd fret of the top two strings for the whole loop. G (320033), Dsus4 (xx0233), Em7 (022033), Cadd9 (x32033). The changes become almost automatic and the sound opens up, typical of acoustic pop.
With a capo at the 2nd fret, the same shapes sound in A major (A E F#m D); at the 4th fret, in B major. A starter strum: down, down-up, up-down-up, twice per chord.
What variations of the pop progression exist?
Start somewhere else in the loop and the mood changes completely:
- vi-IV-I-V (Am F C G): the melancholic version, everywhere in 2000s pop.
- I-vi-IV-V (C Am F G): the 50s doo-wop progression, as in "Stand by Me" (A F#m D E).
- IV-I-V-vi (F C G Am): a suspended start, common in choruses.
To make it your own, swap G for G/B (x20003) for a falling bass C, B, A, or play Fm just before returning to C. The songbook lets you write down your chord sheets and transpose them in one click.
Key takeaways
- I-V-vi-IV = C G Am F in C, G D Em C in G.
- Four diatonic chords, with a minor vi in the middle for emotion.
- Starting on vi (vi-IV-I-V) makes it melancholic.
- In G with anchored fingers on the 3rd fret, it is the easiest loop on guitar.
Frequently asked questions
Why do so many songs use I-V-vi-IV?
Because it holds all three functions (tonic, dominant, subdominant) plus the relative minor in four simple chords. It loops endlessly, leaves room for the melody and sounds good in every key.
What is the best key to play it on guitar?
G major (G D Em C) is the easiest, with no barre chords. C major (C G Am F) needs an F; use Fmaj7 (xx3210) at first. After that, a capo gives you every other key.
Are I-V-vi-IV and vi-IV-I-V the same progression?
They use the same chords in the same circular order, but start from a different point. vi-IV-I-V begins on the minor chord, which sounds darker and can even make A minor feel like the tonic.
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
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