Chord progressions
Seven patterns that turn up in music of every style. Hear each one, then see it in all twelve keys.
- I–V–vi–IVThe four-chord pop progression
- C
- G
- Am
- F
The loop behind countless pop songs: home, tension, a minor turn, and away.
- ii7–V7–Imaj7The jazz turnaround
- Dm7
- G7
- Cmaj7
The basic cadence of jazz: three seventh chords that lead home.
- I–IV–VThe three-chord progression
- C
- F
- G
Three major chords that carry folk, country, rock and roll and gospel.
- I7–IV7–V7The 12-bar blues
- C7
- C7
- C7
- C7
- F7
- F7
- C7
- C7
- G7
- F7
- C7
- G7
The twelve-bar form of the blues, with dominant seventh chords throughout.
- vi–IV–I–VThe minor-start pop loop
- Am
- F
- C
- G
The pop loop started on its minor chord: darker, more emotional.
- I–vi–IV–VThe doo-wop progression
- C
- Am
- F
- G
The 1950s progression: warm, nostalgic and perfect for harmony singing.
- I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–VThe descending eight-chord pattern
- C
- G
- Am
- Em
- F
- C
- F
- G
Eight chords over a bass that walks down step by step: grand and graceful.
Reading the numerals
Progressions are written with Roman numerals so that they work in every key. The numeral is the degree of the scale the chord is built on: I is the home chord, IV the chord on the fourth note, V the chord on the fifth. Upper case means a major chord, lower case a minor chord, and a small circle (°) a diminished one. So I–V–vi–IV is C–G–Am–F in C major and G–D–Em–C in G major.
Home, away and tension
Each chord in a key has a job. The home chords (I, and the minor chords iii and vi that share notes with it) feel stable. The away chords (IV and ii) move the music from home. The tension chords (V and vii°) want to go back home, and when they do, the ear hears a full stop. Almost every progression is a short trip along that path.
Where to start
If you are new to chords, start with I–IV–V: three major chords, easy on every instrument. Then I–V–vi–IV for a modern sound, and the 12-bar blues to learn a full form. Jazz players should know the ii–V–I in every key.