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.[1] Rotations include:
The '50s progression uses the same chords but in a different order (I–vi–IV–V), no matter the starting point.
A common ordering of the progression, "vi–IV–I–V", was dubbed the "sensitive female chord progression" by Boston Globe columnist Marc Hirsh.[2] In C major this would be Am–F–C–G, modulating the key to A minor.
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[4] and "Down" by Jay Sean.[5] 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.[6]
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 an 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.[7] As of May 2020, the two most popular versions have been viewed over 100 million times combined.[8] [9]
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 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:
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"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Carole King makes prominent use of this progression in its verses. "Lay Lady Lay"[10] uses the similar progression I–iii–VII–ii; the second and fourth chords are replaced by the relative minor while preserving the same
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This is a list of recorded songs containing multiple, repeated uses of the I–V–vi–IV progression.
Song title | Artist | data-sort-type="number" | Year | Progression | Recorded Key |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"[18] | Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi | G major | |
"18 And Life"[19] | Skid Row | 1989 | vi-IV-I-V | C♯ minor | |
"20 Good Reasons"[20] | Thirsty Merc | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | D♭ major | |
"Africa"[21] | Toto | 1982 | vi−IV–I–V (chorus) | F♯ minor (chorus) | |
"Aicha"[22] | 1996 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor | ||
"Ai Se Eu Te Pego"[23] | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | B major | ||
"All of Me"[24] | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V | A♭ major | ||
"All You Wanted"[25] | 2002 | vi–IV–I–V | A♭ minor (verse) | ||
"All Too Well"[26] | Taylor Swift | 2012 | I–V–vi–IV | C Major | |
"Almost"[27] | Bowling for Soup | 2005 | I–V–vi–IV | B major | |
"Alone"[28] | Heart | 1987 | vi–IV-I–V | E♭ minor (chorus) | |
"Alone" | Alan Walker | 2016 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor | |
"Amaranth"[29] | 2007 | vi–IV–I–V | D minor | ||
"A New Day Has Come"[30] | Celine Dion | 2002 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ major | |
"Any Way You Want It" [31] | 1980 | I-V-vi-IV | G major | ||
"Apologize"[32] | 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"[33] | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V (chorus) | D♭ major | ||
"Awesome God" | 2005 | IV–I–V–vi | A major | ||
"Bad Blood"[34] | 2014 | IV–I–V–vi | G major | ||
"Bailando"[35] | 2014 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor | ||
"Beast of Burden"[36] | 1978 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | ||
"Bebe"[37] | 2018 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor | ||
"Breakeven" | The Script | 2008 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | B♭ major/G minor | |
"Building a Mystery"[38] | 1997 | vi-IV-I-V | B minor | ||
"Bullet"[39] | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | ||
"Burn"[40] | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V (pre-chorus and chorus) | B♭ minor/D♭ major | ||
"California King Bed"[41] | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | G major | ||
"Caramelldansen"[42] | 2001 | I–V–vi–IV | E♭ major/G♭ major | ||
"Check Yes Juliet (Run Baby Run)"[43] | 2008 | vi−I−IV−V (chorus) | D major | ||
"Clean"[44] | Taylor Swift | 2014 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | |
"Come Over"[45] | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ minor | ||
"Complicated"[46] | 2002 | vi-IV-I-V (intro) | D minor | ||
"Cruise"[47] | 2012 | I–V–vi–IV | B♭ major | ||
"Daddy DJ" | Daddy DJ | 1999 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor | |
"Dammit"[48] | 1997 | I–V–vi–IV | C major | ||
"Demons" | Imagine Dragons | 2013 | I-V-vi-IV | E♭ major | |
"Despacito"[49] | Luis Fonsi | 2017 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor | |
"Don't Trust Me"[50] | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ major | ||
"Don't You Wanna Stay"[51] | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | G♯ minor | ||
"Dragostea Din Tei"[52] | 2003 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | A minor | ||
"Dream Catch Me"[53] | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | D major | ||
"Drive By"[54] | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V (verse)IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | C♯ minor | ||
"Face Down"[55] | 2006 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor | ||
"Faded"[56] | Alan Walker | 2015 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor | |
"Feeling This"[57] | 2003 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | ||
"Flashlight"[58] | Jessie J | 2015 | I–V–vi–IV | F major | |
"For the First Time"[59] | 2010 | I–V–vi–IV | A major | ||
"Forever Young"[60] | 1984 | I–V–vi–IV | C major | ||
"Fuckin' Perfect"[61] [62] | 2010 | I–V–vi–IV | G major | ||
"Ghost"[63] | 2021 | vi–IV–I–V | D major | ||
"Girls Chase Boys"[64] | 2014 | I−IV−vi−V | A♭ major | ||
"Girls Like You"[65] | Maroon 5 | 2018 | I–V–vi–IV | C major | |
"Give Me Everything"[66] | Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ major | |
"Glad You Exist"[67] | 2021 | I–V–vi–IV | B major | ||
"Glycerine"[68] | Bush | 1995 | I–V–vi–IV | F major | |
"Good" [69] | 1995 | I-V-vi-IV | G major | ||
"Gotta Get Away"[70] | 1995 | vi-IV-I-V | E minor | ||
"Hair"[71] | Lady Gaga | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | F major | |
"Hall of Fame"[72] | The Script feat. will.i.am | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor | |
"Happy Ending"[73] | Mika | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | D♭ major | |
"Heart Attack"[74] | Demi Lovato | 2013 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | F minor | |
"Hello"[75] | Adele | 2015 | vi–I–V–IV (verse) vi–IV–I–V (chorus) | F minor | |
"Hey Brother"[76] | Avicii | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor | |
"Hide and Seek"[77] | Imogen Heap | 2005 | I–V–vi–IV | A major | |
"High" | Lighthouse Family | 1997 | I–V–vi–IV | B♭ major | |
"Home"[78] | Phillip Phillips | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | C major | |
"How Far We've Come" [79] | Matchbox Twenty | 2007 | I-V-vi-IV (verse) vi-IV-I-V (chorus) | C major | |
"Hwaa"[80] | (G)I-dle | 2021 | vi−IV−I−V | F♯ minor | |
"I Don't Want To Be"[81] | 2003 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | E♭ major | ||
"If I Were a Boy"[82] | Beyoncé | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | G♭ major | |
"I Just Had Sex"[83] | The Lonely Island feat. Akon | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | D♯ minor | |
"I Love You"[84] | 2018 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | C major | ||
"I'm Goin' Down[85] | Bruce Springsteen | 1985 | I–V–vi–IV | B♭ major | |
"I'm Not Famous" | AJR | 2016 | V–vi–IV–I | F major | |
"I'm Yours"[86] | Jason Mraz | 2008 | I–V–vi–IV | B major | |
"In My Head"[87] | Jason Derulo | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor | |
"International Love"[88] | Pitbull feat. Chris Brown | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor | |
"In This River"[89] | Black Label Society | 2005 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor | |
"I Was Here"[90] | Beyoncé | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor | |
"Jantung Hatiku"[91] | 2023 | I–V–vi–IV | F♯ major | ||
"Just a Dream"[92] | Nelly | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor | |
"Just the Way I'm Feeling" | Feeder | 2003 | V-vi-IV-I (chorus) | D major | |
"Kids" | OneRepublic | 2016 | V–vi–IV–I | D major | |
"Lemonade"[93] | Alexandra Stan | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor | |
"Little Talks"[94] | Of Monsters and Men | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ minor | |
"Love"[95] | 2017 | I–V–vi–IV (intro, verse, and chorus) | B♭ major | ||
"Love Me"[96] | Justin Bieber | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor | |
"Love the Way You Lie"[97] | Eminem feat. Rihanna | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | G minor | |
"Marilyn Monroe"[98] | Nicki Minaj | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor | |
"My Happy Ending"[99] | 2004 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor | ||
"My Name Is Jonas"[100] | Weezer | 1994 | I–V–vi–IV | B major | |
"Nobody's Perfect"[101] | Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) | 2007 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor | |
"No One"[102] | Alicia Keys | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | |
"No Woman, No Cry"[103] | Bob Marley | 1973 | I–V–vi–IV | D♭ major | |
"Not Afraid"[104] | Eminem | 2010 | vi–IV–I–V | C minor | |
"Nothing"[105] | 2010 | I–V–vi–IV (chorus) | D major | ||
"Numb"[106] | Linkin Park | 2003 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor | |
"One Day"[107] | Matisyahu | 2008 | I–V–vi–IV | C major | |
"One Last Breath"[108] | 2002 | I–V–vi–IV | D major | ||
"One of Us"[109] | Joan Osborne | 1995 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor | |
"On the Floor"[110] | Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor | |
"Only my railgun"[111] | fripSide | 2009 | vi–IV–V–I | B major | |
"Otherside"[112] | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2000 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor | |
"Out of the Woods"[113] | Taylor Swift | 2014 | I–V–vi–IV | A minor | |
"Peace of Mind"[114] | Boston | 1976 | vi–IV–I–V | C♯ minor | |
"Perfect"[115] | Ed Sheeran | 2017 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor | |
"Pieces"[116] | Sum 41 | 2005 | vi–IV–I–V | D minor | |
"Poker Face"[117] | Lady Gaga | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | G♯ minor | |
"Pork and Beans"[118] | Weezer | 2008 | I–V–vi–IV | G♭ major | |
"Prison Bound"[119] | Social Distortion | 1988 | I–V–vi–IV | F♯ major | |
"Read All About It, Pt. III"[120] | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor | ||
"Real World"[121] | 1998 | I–V–vi–IV (verse) | B♭ major | ||
"Replay"[122] | Iyaz | 2009 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor | |
"Rewrite the Stars"[123] | 2018 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ major | ||
"Rise"[124] | McClain Sisters | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor | |
"River Flows in You"[125] | Yiruma | 2001 | vi–IV–I–V | A major | |
"Rockstars"[126] | Malik Harris | 2022 | I–V–vi–IV | G major | |
"Roly-Poly"[127] | T-ARA | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor | |
"Runaway" | Kanye West | 2010 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | |
"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)"[128] | 1967 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor | ||
"Save Tonight"[129] | Eagle Eye Cherry | 1997 | vi–IV–I–V | C major | |
"Say Something"[130] | A Great Big World | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V | B minor | |
"Scar"[131] | Missy Higgins | 2004 | I–V–vi–IV | C major | |
"Since You Been Gone"[132] | Russ Ballard | 1976 | I–V–vi–IV | G major | |
"Singing in My Sleep" [133] | 1998 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | ||
"Six Degrees of Separation"[134] | The Script | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | C♯ minor | |
"Snow (Hey Oh)"[135] | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2006 | vi–IV–I–V | B major/G♯ minor | |
"Someone like You"[136] | Adele | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | A major | |
"Someone to You"[137] | Banners | 2017 | I–V–vi–IV | D major | |
"Someone You Loved"[138] | Lewis Capaldi | 2018 | I–V–vi–IV | D♭ major | |
"Soul To Squeeze"[139] | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 1993 | I–V–vi–IV | F major | |
"Sparks Fly"[140] | Taylor Swift | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | D minor | |
"Stand"[141] | Rascal Flatts | 2007 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor | |
"Stereo Hearts"[142] | Gym Class Heroes | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor | |
"Stick Season"[143] | Noah Kahan | 2022 | I–V–vi–IV | A major | |
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"[144] | Kelly Clarkson | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor | |
"Take On Me"[145] | a-ha | 1984 | I–V–vi–IV | A major | |
"Take You Down"[146] | Illenium | 2018 | vi–IV–I–V | B major | |
"Tangled Up in Me"[147] | Skye Sweetnam | 2004 | I–V–vi–IV | C major | |
"The Days"[148] | 2014 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | C major | ||
"The Edge of Glory"[149] | Lady Gaga | 2011 | I–V–vi–IV | A major | |
"The Kids Aren't Alright"[150] | The Offspring | 1999 | vi–IV–I–V | B♭ minor | |
"The Rock Show"[151] | 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"[152] | Stacie Orrico | 2003 | vi–IV–I–V | F minor | |
"To Know Him Is to Love Him"[153] | The Teddy Bears | 1958 | I–V–vi–IV | D major | |
"Try"[154] | P!nk | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi; vi–IV–I–V | D major/B minor | |
"Tuesday's Gone"[155] | 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"[156] | 1996 | V−vi−IV−I | B major | ||
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" | 2012 | IV–I–V–vi | G major | ||
"We Didn't Start the Fire"[157] | Billy Joel | 1989 | I–V–vi–IV | G major | |
"We Found Love"[158] | Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ major | |
"What About Now"[159] | Lonestar | 2000 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | |
"Whatever" | Ava Max, Kygo | 2024 | vi–IV–I–V (chorus) | Eb major | |
"Whatever It Takes" | Imagine Dragons | 2017 | IV–I–V–vi (chorus) | B♭ minor | |
"What Would I Change It To"[160] | Avicii & AlunaGeorge | 2017 | I–V–vi–IV | B major | |
"What's My Age Again?"[161] | Blink-182 | 1999 | IV–I–V–vi; I–V–vi–IV | F♯ major | |
"When Can I See You Again?"[162] | Owl City | 2012 | I–V–vi–IV | D major | |
"When I Come Around"[163] | Green Day | 1993 | I–V–vi–IV | G♭ major | |
"Wherever You Will Go"[164] | The Calling | 2001 | I–V–vi–IV | D major | |
"Where'd You Go"[165] | 2006 | I–V–vi–IV | E major | ||
"Whistle"[166] | Flo Rida | 2012 | vi–IV–I–V | A minor | |
"Who You Are"[167] | Jessie J | 2011 | vi–IV–I–V | F♯ minor | |
"Willst du"[168] | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V | G♯ minor | ||
"With Me"[169] | 2007 | I–V–vi–IV (intro and verse) | E major | ||
"Young Volcanoes"[170] | 2013 | vi–IV–I–V (verse) | B minor | ||
"You Found Me"[171] | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V (chorus) | G♯ minor | ||
"You'll Think Of Me"[172] | Keith Urban | 2004 | I–V–vi–IV; vi–IV–I–V | A major/F♯ minor | |
"You're Not Sorry"[173] | Taylor Swift | 2008 | vi–IV–I–V | E♭ minor | |
"Zombie"[174] | 1994 | vi–IV–I–V | E minor |