The Ubiquitous I V vi IV Chord Progression.
I am quite aware that this topic has been covered several times in other on-line music blogs and lessons; The Axis of Awesome has gone as far as to write an entire comedy/music bit performing many of the songs listed below (in keeping with their group’s name, it is “awesome”) but I do believe I have room to chime in on the subject.
Some Salient Points
For the most part very few of these songs actually play this progression ad nauseum. As fabulous as The Axis of Awesome’s “4 Chord Song” is they neglect to point out that, for instance, “Don’t Stop Believing” full verse progression is actually:
I V iv VI then I V iii IV
E B C#m A E B G#m A
Need I point out that’s five chords? And then the chorus is something completely different.
A few fantastic exceptions to this rule are The Police’s “So Lonely” (they do change keys but they keep the chord progression the same), U2’s “With or Without You” and Jack Johnson’s “Taylor” though “Taylor” also strays from the progression in the instrumental intro, coda and outro (same as intro).
The Axis of Awesome also play their song in the same key throughout, though the original versions of the songs they sing are actually in different keys. (I’m not knocking The Axis ofAwesome; I think their great. I’m just pointing out the not so obvious).
What does the Roman numeral mean? The major scale is made up of seven different notes. For instance the key of C = C D E F G A B C. Key of G = G A B C D E F# G.
Those are the pitches in those keys but you can turn those single notes into chords by stacking every other note (up to three notes) on top of each other: C = C E G, G = G B D, etc.
The Major Scale Chord pattern is the same for all keys. The pitch names change from key to key but the quality (Major, minor or diminished) of the chord remains the same. Here is the pattern:
I ii iii IV V vi vii
Major Minor Minor Major Major Minor Diminished
Key of C chords = C Major, D minor, E minor, F Major, G Major, Am, B diminished
Key of G chords = G Major, A minor, B minor, C Major, D Major, Em, F# diminished
Below is an incomplete list of I V vi IV songs. I’ve made note of the song title, artist, key and how much of the song actually maintains the progression. There are also a few “minor” versions of this chord progression all that means is the song starts on the minor “vi” chord instead of the “I” for instance “Save Tonight” is:
vi IV I V
Am F C G
Do I need to tell you all you need do now is search Youtube and starting playing along?
(Note: As you can see I stopped listing the keys, etc. after 40 songs…isn’t that enough?)
I V vi IV CHORD PROGRESSIONS
Key
Root
I V vi IV
C G Am F
G D Em C
D A Bm G
A E F#m D
E B C#m A
- So Lonely: The Police Keys of C & D Entire Song
- With or Without You: U2 Key of D Entire Song
- Taylor: Jack Johnson Key of C Entire Song (Except Intro and Coda)
- Soundtrack to My Life: Kid Cudi Key of C Entire Song
- Under the Bridge: R.H.C.P. Key of E Verse
- Beast of Burden: The Rolling Stones Key of E Verse
- Damn It: Blink 182 Key of C Verse & Chorus
- Hey Soul Sister: Train Key of E Verse
- Down Under: Men at Work Key of D Chorus (Partial)
- Let It Be: The Beatles Key of C Partial Verse
- What’s My Age Again: Blink 182 Key of F# Partial Verse & Chorus
- As Is: Ani DiFranco Key of Bb Verse
- Out of Habit: Ani DiFranco Key of E Partial Verse
- Glycerine: Bush Key of F Verse
- When I Come Around: Green Day Key of G Verse
- My Name is Jonas: Weezer Key of C ¾ Partial Verse
- No Woman, No Cry: Bob Marley Key of C Verse & Partial Chorus
- How Far We’ve Come: Matchbox 20 Key of C Entire, Chorus Am
- Don’t Stop Believing: Journey Key of E Partial Verse
- Run: Snow Patrol Key of C Chorus
- Head Over Feet: Alalanis Morissette Key of C Verse
- Today: Smashing Pumpkins Key of E Partial Verse
- Jessie’s Girl: Rick Springfield Key of D Partial Verse
- Effortlessly: Sister Hazel Key of G Verse & Chorus
- Move Along: All American Rejects Key of Eb Intro
- Save Tonight: Eagle Eye Cherry Key of Am Entire Song
- The Passenger: Iggy Pop Key of Am 99% (Has an E in it)
- Grenade: Bruno Mars Key of Dm Chorus
- Peace of Mind: Boston Key of C#m Intro & Outro Melody
- I Want You to Want Me Key of A Chorus
- No One Else: Weezer Key of E Chorus
- Heat of the Moment: Asia Key of Db Twisted version.
- One Last Breath: Creed Key of D Verse
- Self Esteem: The Offspring Key of Am Verse & Chorus 75%
- Country Roads: John Denver Key of A First part of Chorus
- Black Label Society: In This River Key of Ebm Verse
- Michelle Branch: All You Wanted Key of Fm Chorus
- One Republic: Apologize Key of C#m Entire Song
- Avril Lavigne: Complicated Key of Dm Chorus
- Zzzzz: The Cab Key of D Entire (except Pre-Chorus)
- Beautiful: James Blunt
- You and Your Hand: Pink
- Poker Face: Lady Gaga
- If I Were a Boy: Beyonce
- Forever Young: Alphaville
- Jason Mraz: I’m Yours
- Amazing: Alex Lloyd
- Happy Ending: Mika
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight: Elton John
- Wherever You Will Go: The Calling
- She Will Be Loved: Maroon 5
- Pictures of You: The Last Goodnight
- Fall at Your Feet: Crowded House
- Not Pretty Enough: Kasey Chambers
- The Horses: Daryl Braithwaite
- Sex and Candy: Marcy Playground
- Take on Me: A Ha
- Africa: Toto
- You’re Gonna Go Far Kid: The Offspring
- You Found Me: The Fray
- Tom: Natalie Imbruglia
- Superman: Five for Fighting
Shawn Persinger, a.k.a. Prester John, is a self-proclaimed “Modern/Primitive” guitarist who owns Taylor 410s and 310s. His latest sister CDs, Rise O’ Fainthearted Girls and Desire for a Straight Line (one instrumental, one vocal), with mandolinist David Miller, showcases a myriad of delightful musical paradoxes: complex but catchy; virtuosic yet affable; smart and whimsical. www.PersingerMusic.com
