I–V–vi–IV progression
The I–V–vi–IV progression is a common chord progression popular across several genres of music. It uses the I, V, vi, and IV chords of a musical scale. For example, in the key of C major, this progression would be C–G–Am–F. Rotations include:
- I–V–vi–IV : C–G–Am–F
- V–vi–IV–I : G–Am–F–C
- vi–IV–I–V : Am–F–C–G
- IV–I–V–vi : F–C–G–Am
The '50s progression uses the same chords but in a different order (I–vi–IV–V), no matter the starting point.
Variations
A common ordering of the progression begins "vi–IV–I–V". In C major this would be Am–F–C–G, modulating the key to A minor.
Boston Globe writer Marc Hirsh first noticed the chord progression in the song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne, and then other songs. However, examples of the progression appeared in pop hits as early as the 1950s, such as in the Teddy Bears' "To Know Him Is to Love Him", written by Phil Spector.
Dan Bennett claims the progression is also called the "pop-punk progression" because of its frequent use in pop punk.
In this ordering, the progression ends with a double plagal cadence in the key of the dominant (in the Mixolydian mode) and could also be respelled ii–bVII–IV–I, opening with a backdoor turnaround.
The chord progression is also used in the form IV–I–V–vi, as in songs such as "Umbrella" by Rihanna and "Down" by Jay Sean. Numerous bro-country songs followed the chord progression, as demonstrated by Greg Todd's mash-up of several bro-country songs in an early 2015 video.
A 2008 medley by the comedy group the Axis of Awesome, called "Four Chords", demonstrated the ubiquity of the progression in popular music, for comic effect; for instance, as the progression is played as a ostinato, sometimes it is used as a vi–IV–I–V (i. e. the "pessimistic" inversion). It does not accurately represent the chord progressions of all the songs it depicts. It was originally written in D major (thus the progression being D major, A major, B minor, G major) and performed live in the key of E major (thus using the chords E major, B major, C# minor, and A major). The song was subsequently published on YouTube. As of May 2020, the two most popular versions have been viewed over 100 million times combined.
The British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree made a song called "Four Chords That Made A Million" that appears to be a satire of the broad use of this progression in contemporary commercial music.
I–V–♭VII–IV
I–V–♭VII–IV may be viewed as a variation of I–V–vi–IV, replacing the submediant with the subtonic. It consists of two IV chord progressions, the second a whole step lower (A–E–G–D = I–V in A and I–V in G), giving it a sort of harmonic drive. There are few keys in which one may play the progression with open chords on the guitar, so it is often portrayed with barre chords ("Lay Lady Lay"). The use of the flattened seventh may lend this progression a bluesy feel or sound, and the whole tone descent may be reminiscent of the ninth and tenth chords of the twelve bar blues (V–IV). The progression also makes possible a chromatic descent across a minor third: –♯–♮–.
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Carole King makes prominent use of this progression in its verses. "Lay Lady Lay" uses the similar progression I–iii–♭VII–ii; the second and fourth chords are replaced by the relative minor while preserving the same –♯–♮– descent. This progression is used in other songs including "Turning Japanese" (1980) by the Vapors, "Sample in a Jar" (1994) by Phish (I–iii–♭VII–IV), "Waterfalls" (1995) by TLC, and "Don't Tell Me" (2000) by Madonna. "Cinnamon Girl" (1969) by Neil Young uses I–v–♭VII–IV (all in Mixolydian). It opens the verse to "Brown Eyes" by Lady Gaga, is used in the chorus to "Rio" (1982) by Duran Duran and "Sugar Hiccup" (1983) by the Cocteau Twins, and is in the 2nd part of the bridge in "Sweet Jane" (1988) by the Cowboy Junkies. John Maus uses a i-v-VII-iv in c minor for the verse of “Cop Killer”. The progression is also used entirely with minor chords[i-v-vii-iv (g#, d#, f#, c#)] in the middle section of Chopin's etude op. 10 no. 12. However, using the same chord type (major or minor) on all four chords causes it to feel more like a sequence of descending fourths than a bona fide chord progression. I–IV–♭VII–IV is a similar chord progression which is arch formed (I–IV–♭VII–IV–I), and has been used in the chorus to "And She Was" (1985) by Talking Heads, in "Let's Go Crazy" (1984) by Prince, in "Like a Rock" (1986) by Bob Seger, in "Steady, As She Goes" (2006) by the Raconteurs (minor tonic: i–V–♭VII–IV).
Songs using the progression
This is a list of recorded songs containing multiple, repeated uses of the I–V–vi–IV progression.
Song title | Artist | Year | Progression | Recorded Key |
---|---|---|---|---|
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" | Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi | G major |
"20 Good Reasons" | Thirsty Merc | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | D♭ major |
"Africa" | Toto | 1982 | vi−IV–I–V (chorus) | F♯ minor (chorus) |
"Aicha" | Cheb Khaled | 1996 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor |
"Ai Se Eu Te Pego" | Michel Teló | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | B major |
"All You Wanted" | Michelle Branch | 2002 | vi–IV–I–V | A♭ major |
"Almost" | Bowling for Soup | 2005 | I–V–vi–IV | B major |
"Alone" | Alan Walker | 2016 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor |
"Amaranth" | Nightwish | 2007 | vi–IV–I–V | D minor |
"A New Day Has Come" | Celine Dion | 2002 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ major |
"Apologize" | Timbaland and OneRepublic | 2007 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor |
"As If It's Your Last" | Blackpink | 2017 | IV−I−V−vi (chorus) | A♭ major (chorus) |
"Audience of One" | Rise Against | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V (chorus) | D♭ major |
"Awesome God" | Hillsong United | 2005 | IV–I–V–vi | A major |
"Bad Blood" | Taylor Swift | 2014 | IV–I–V–vi | G major |
"Bailando" | Enrique Iglesias feat. Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona | 2014 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor |
"Beast of Burden" | The Rolling Stones | 1978 | I–V–vi–IV | E major |
"Bebe" | 6ix9ine | 2018 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor |
"I Don't Want To Be" | Gavin DeGraw | 2003 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | E♭ major |
"Breakeven" | The Script | 2008 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | B♭ major/G minor |
"Bullet" | Hollywood Undead | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | E major |
"Burn" | Ellie Goulding | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V (pre-chorus and chorus) | B♭ minor/D♭ major |
"California King Bed" | Rihanna | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | G major |
"Caramelldansen" | Caramell | 2001 | I–V–vi–IV | E♭ major/G♭ major |
"Check Yes Juliet (Run Baby Run)" | We the Kings | 2008 | vi−I−IV−V (chorus) | D major |
"Clean" | Taylor Swift | 2014 | I–V–vi–IV | B major |
"Come Over" | Kenny Chesney | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ minor |
"Cruise" | Florida Georgia Line | 2012 | I–V–vi–IV | B♭ major |
"Cryin'" | Aerosmith | 1993 | I–V–vi–IV | A major (chorus) |
"Daddy DJ" | Daddy DJ | 1999 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor |
"Dammit" | Blink-182 | 1997 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"Despacito" | Luis Fonsi | 2017 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor |
"Don't Trust Me" | 3OH!3 | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ major |
"Don't You Wanna Stay" | Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | G♯ minor |
"Dragostea Din Tei" | O-Zone | 2003 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | A minor |
"Dream Catch Me" | Newton Faulkner | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | D major |
"Drive By" | Train | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V (verse)
IV–I–V–vi (chorus) |
C♯ minor |
"Face Down" | The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus | 2006 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor |
"Faded" | Alan Walker | 2015 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor |
"Feeling This" | Blink-182 | 2003 | I–V–vi–IV | E major |
"Flashlight" | Jessie J | 2015 | I–V–vi–IV | F major |
"For the First Time" | The Script | 2010 | I–V–vi–IV | A major |
"Forever Young" | Alphaville | 1984 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"Fuckin' Perfect" | P!nk | 2010 | I–V–vi–IV | G major |
"Ghost" | Justin Bieber | 2021 | vi–IV–I–V | D major |
"Girls Chase Boys" | Ingrid Michaelson | 2014 | I−IV−vi−V | A♭ major |
"Give Me Everything" | Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ major |
"Glad You Exist" | Dan + Shay | 2021 | I–V–vi–IV | B major |
"Glycerine" | Bush | 1995 | I–V–vi–IV | F major |
"Hair" | Lady Gaga | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | F major |
"Hall of Fame" | The Script feat. will.i.am | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor |
"My Happy Ending" | Avril Lavigne | 2004 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor |
"Happy Ending" | Mika | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | D♭ major |
"Heart Attack" | Demi Lovato | 2013 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | F minor |
"Hello" | Adele | 2015 | vi–I–V–IV (verse) vi–IV–I–V (chorus) |
F minor |
"Hey Brother" | Avicii | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor |
"Hide and Seek" | Imogen Heap | 2005 | I–V–vi–IV | A major |
"Home" | Phillip Phillips | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | C major |
"Hwaa" | (G)I-dle | 2021 | vi−IV−I−V | F♯ minor |
"If I Were a Boy" | Beyoncé | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | G♭ major |
"I Just Had Sex" | The Lonely Island feat. Akon | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | D# minor |
"I Love You" | EXID | 2018 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | C major |
"I'm Goin' Down | Bruce Springsteen | 1985 | I–V–vi–IV | B♭ major |
"I'm Not Famous" | AJR | 2016 | V–vi–IV–I | F major |
"I'm Yours" | Jason Mraz | 2008 | I–V–vi–IV | B major |
"In My Head" | Jason Derulo | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor |
"International Love" | Pitbull feat. Chris Brown | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor |
"In This River" | Black Label Society | 2005 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor |
"I Was Here" | Beyoncé | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor |
"Jantung Hatiku" | Ita Purnamasari | 2023 | I–V–vi–IV | F♯ major |
"Just a Dream" | Nelly | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor |
"Kids" | OneRepublic | 2016 | V–vi–IV–I | D major |
"Lemonade" | Alexandra Stan | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor |
"Let It Be" | The Beatles | 1970 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"Little Talks" | Of Monsters and Men | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ minor |
"Love" | Lana Del Rey | 2017 | I–V–vi–IV (intro, verse, and chorus) | B♭ major |
"Love Me" | Justin Bieber | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor |
"Love the Way You Lie" | Eminem feat. Rihanna | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor |
"Marilyn Monroe" | Nicki Minaj | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor |
"Whiskey Glasses" | Morgan Wallen | 2018 | I–V–vi–IV | G major |
"My Name Is Jonas" | Weezer | 1994 | I–V–vi–IV | B major |
"Nobody's Perfect" | Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) | 2007 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor |
"No One" | Alicia Keys | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | E major |
"No Woman, No Cry" | Bob Marley | 1973 | I–V–vi–IV | D♭ major |
"Not Afraid" | Eminem | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor |
"Nothing" | The Script | 2010 | I–V–vi–IV (chorus) | D major |
"Numb" | Linkin Park | 2003 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor |
"One Day" | Matisyahu | 2008 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"One of Us" | Joan Osborne | 1995 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor |
"On the Floor" | Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor |
"Only my railgun" | fripSide | 2009 | vi–IV–V–I | B major |
"Otherside" | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2000 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor |
"Out of the Woods" | Taylor Swift | 2014 | I–V–vi–IV | A minor |
"Peace of Mind" | Boston | 1976 | vi–IV–I–V | C♯ minor |
"Pieces" | Sum 41 | 2005 | vi–IV–I–V | D minor |
"Poker Face" | Lady Gaga | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | G♯ minor |
"Pork and Beans" | Weezer | 2008 | I–V–vi–IV | G♭ major |
"Prison Bound" | Social Distortion | 1988 | I–V–vi–IV | F♯ major |
"Read All About It, Pt. III" | Emeli Sandé | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor |
"Real World" | Matchbox Twenty | 1998 | I–V–vi–IV (verse) | B♭ major |
"Replay" | Iyaz | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor |
"Rewrite the Stars" | Zac Efron and Zendaya | 2018 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ major |
"Rise" | McClain Sisters | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor |
"River Flows in You" | Yiruma | 2001 | vi–IV–I–V | A major |
"Rockstars" | Malik Harris | 2022 | I–V–vi–IV | G major |
"Roly-Poly" | T-ARA | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor |
"Save Tonight" | Eagle Eye Cherry | 1997 | vi–IV–I–V | C major |
"Say Something" | A Great Big World | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor |
"Scar" | Missy Higgins | 2004 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"Since You Been Gone" | Russ Ballard | 1976 | I–V–vi–IV | G major |
"Six Degrees of Separation" | The Script | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | C♯ minor |
"Snow (Hey Oh)" | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2006 | vi–IV–I–V | B major/G♯ minor |
"So Lonely" | The Police | 1978 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"Someone like You" | Adele | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | A major |
"Someone to You" | Banners | 2017 | I–V–vi–IV | D major |
"Someone You Loved" | Lewis Capaldi | 2018 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"Soul To Squeeze" | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 1993 | I–V–vi–IV | F major |
"Sparks Fly" | Taylor Swift | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | D minor |
"Stand" | Rascal Flatts | 2007 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor |
"Stereo Hearts" | Gym Class Heroes | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor |
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" | Kelly Clarkson | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor |
"Take On Me" | Aha | 1984 | I–V–vi–IV | A major |
"Take You Down" | Illenium | 2018 | vi–IV–I–V | B major |
"Tangled Up in Me" | Skye Sweetnam | 2004 | I–V–vi–IV | C major |
"The Days" | Avicii | 2014 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | C major |
"The Edge of Glory" | Lady Gaga | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | A major |
"The Kids Aren't Alright" | The Offspring | 1999 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ minor |
"The Rock Show" | Blink-182 | 2001 | vi–IV–I–V (bridge) | A major/F♯ minor |
"The Spectre" | Alan Walker | 2017 | vi–IV–I–V | C♯ minor |
"(There's Gotta Be) More to Life" | Stacie Orrico | 2003 | vi–IV–I–V | F minor |
"To Know Him Is to Love Him" | The Teddy Bears | 1958 | I–V–vi–IV | D major |
"Try" | P!nk | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | D major/B minor |
"Tuesday's Gone" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | 1973 | I–V–vi–IV | A major |
"Up" | Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato | 2014 | IV−I−V−vi (chorus) | A major |
"Wagon Wheel" | Old Crow Medicine Show and Bob Dylan | 2004 | I–V–vi–IV | A major |
"Wannabe" | Itzy | 2020 | IV–I–V–vi | F♯ minor/A major |
"Wannabe" | Spice Girls | 1996 | V−vi−IV−I | B major |
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" | Taylor Swift | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi | G major |
"We Found Love" | Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ major |
"What About Now" | Lonestar | 2000 | I–V–vi–IV | E major |
"Whatever It Takes" | Imagine Dragons | 2017 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | B♭ minor |
"What Would I Change It To" | Avicii & AlunaGeorge | 2017 | I–V–vi–IV | B major |
"What's My Age Again?" | Blink-182 | 1999 | IV–I–V–vi; I–V–vi–IV | F♯ major |
"When Can I See You Again?" | Owl City | 2012 | I–V–vi–IV | D major |
"When I Come Around" | Green Day | 1993 | I–V–vi–IV | G♭ major |
"Wherever You Will Go" | The Calling | 2001 | I–V–vi–IV | D major |
"Where'd You Go" | Fort Minor feat. Holly Brook and Jonah Matranga | 2006 | I–V–vi–IV | E major |
"Whistle" | Flo Rida | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor |
"Who You Are" | Jessie J | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor |
"Willst du" | Alligatoah | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V | G♯ minor |
"With Me" | Sum 41 | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV (intro and verse) | E major |
"Young Volcanoes" | Fall Out Boy | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V (verse) | B minor |
"You Found Me" | The Fray | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V (chorus) | G♯ minor |
"You'll Think Of Me" | Keith Urban | 2004 | I–V–vi–IV; vi–IV–I–V | A major/F♯ minor |
"You're Not Sorry" | Taylor Swift | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor |
"Zombie" | The Cranberries | 1994 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor |
See also
- Roman numeral analysis
- "The Complexity of Songs"
- '50s progression
- IV△7–V7–iii7–vi progression – the equivalent chord progression in contemporary Japanese music