Progression · 4 chords
I–vi–IV–V progression
The I–vi–IV–V progression is the sound of 1950s doo-wop: home, down to the minor vi, then IV and V to set up the loop back to I. In C it is C · Am · F · G.
- Numerals
- I–vi–IV–V
- Chords
- Major · Minor · Major · Major
- Listen for
- vi second
How it sounds
Sweet and nostalgic. The drop to the minor vi right after home is the giveaway, and the V at the end pulls the loop around again.
How to pick it out
The second chord falls to a minor chord, darker than home. Compare I–V–vi–IV, which reaches the same minor chord third, not second.
Songs that use it
Stand by Me, Earth Angel and Every Breath You Take are built on it.
On the guitar
Easiest in G: G · Em · C · D, all open chords.
I–vi–IV–V in every key
| Key | Chords | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | C · Am · F · G | |
| D♭ | D♭ · B♭m · G♭ · A♭ | |
| D | D · Bm · G · A | |
| E♭ | E♭ · Cm · A♭ · B♭ | |
| E | E · C♯m · A · B | |
| F | F · Dm · B♭ · C | |
| F♯ | F♯ · D♯m · B · C♯ | |
| G | G · Em · C · D | |
| A♭ | A♭ · Fm · D♭ · E♭ | |
| A | A · F♯m · D · E | |
| B♭ | B♭ · Gm · E♭ · F | |
| B | B · G♯m · E · F♯ |
What’s inside
- Major chords: I, IV, V
- Minor chords: vi
This progression is one of the answers in the game’s “Which progression?” round. Every answer starts on I, so listen to where the second chord goes.