I–V–vi–IV progression

I–V–vi–IV chord progression in C major  Play .

The I–V–vi–IV progression is a common chord progression popular across several genres of music. It involves the I, V, vi, and IV chords; for example, in the key of C major, this would be: C–G–Am–F.[1]

The V is often replaced by iii ("Price Tag"), III ("If We Ever Meet Again" chorus), ii ("Halo"), I ("Doesn't Mean Anything"), II ("Try Too Hard" by P!nk), IV ("I Gotta Feeling").

A 2009 song by the comedy group The Axis of Awesome, called "Four Chords," made this popular progression widely known. It was written in D major (thus using the chords D major, A major, B minor, and G major), and is a widely viewed clip on YouTube.[2]

Variations

It can also be used in the form vi–IV–I–V, which was dubbed the sensitive female chord progression by Boston Globe Columnist Marc Hirsh.[3] In C major this would be Am–F–C–G (Am–F–C–G/B voicing is very common in modern pop music). Hirsh first noticed the chord progression in the song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne.[4] He claims he then began to notice the chord progression in many other songs. He named the progression because he claimed it was used by many members of the Lilith Fair in the late 1990s.[3]

The vi–IV–I–V progression has been associated with the heroic in many popular Hollywood movies and movie trailers, especially in films released since 2000.[5]

"Sensitive female chord progression" in C major  Play .

It is also used as IV–I–V–vi in songs such as "Umbrella" by Rihanna,[6] and "Down" by Jay Sean[7] or as V–vi–IV–I as in "Wannabe" by The Spice Girls, "Angels" by Robbie Williams, and "Gypsy" by Lady Gaga.

Both are a variant of the "doo-wop" I–vi–IV–V progression, familiar from songs such as "Earth Angel" and "Donna".[3]

Examples

Examples of use of the I–V–vi–IV progression include:

Songs using the vi-IV-I-V progression:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Bennett, Dan (2008). The Total Rock Bassist, p. 63. ISBN 978-0739052693
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lynskey, Dorian (17 December 2010). "Don't Stop Believin': the power ballad that refused to die". The Guardian. p. 3 (Film & music). Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Hirsh, Marc. "Striking a Chord", The Boston Globe, December 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ Rundown 3/4: "Sensitive Female Chord Progression", Here and Now, March 4, 2009, wbur.org.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Scott (2014). 'A Pop-Music Progression in Recent Popular Movies and Movie Trailers', Music, Sound, and the Moving Image 8.2 (Autumn): 141-162.
  6. ↑ "Unsupported Browser or Operating System". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-20.(subscription required)
  7. ↑ "Down", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  8. ↑ Miers, Jeff (4 May 2007). "Pop power; All-American Rejects wildly accepted in gig in Buff State arena". The Buffalo News. p. G26. Factiva BFNW000020070505e35400007.
  9. ↑ "Someone Like You", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  10. ↑ "Don't You Wanna Stay", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  11. ↑ "Perfect", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  12. ↑ Sean, Jay. "Jay Sean "Down" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-20. (subscription required)
  13. ↑ "Happy Ending", MusicNotes.com. Chords marked. (subscription required)
  14. ↑ "Head Over Feet", MusicNotes.com. Chords marked. (subscription required)
  15. ↑ "
  16. ↑ "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", MusicNotes.com. Chords marked. (subscription required)
  17. ↑ Lady Gaga. "Lady Gaga "Poker Face" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  18. ↑ The Offspring. "The Offspring "The Kids Aren't Alright" Guitar Tab - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  19. ↑ Train. "Train "Drive By" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  20. ↑ "Save Tonight", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  21. ↑ "Just a Dream", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  22. ↑ Flo Rida (2012-09-26). "Flo Rida "Whistle" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  23. ↑ Beyoncé. "BeyoncĂŠ "If I Were a Boy" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  24. ↑ Eminem. "Eminem "Not Afraid" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  25. ↑ Bon Jovi. "Bon Jovi "It's My Life" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  26. ↑ DeRulo, Jason (2010-10-04). "Jason Derulo "In My Head" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  27. ↑ Mars, Bruno. "Bruno Mars "Grenade" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  28. ↑ Rihanna. "Eminem "Love the Way You Lie" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  29. ↑ Jessie J. "Jessie J "Nobody's Perfect" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  30. ↑ Sebastian, Guy. "Guy Sebastian "Battle Scars" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  31. ↑ The Cranberries. "The Cranberries "Zombie" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  32. ↑ Toto. "Toto "Africa" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  33. ↑ The Lonely Island. "The Lonely Island "I Just Had Sex" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  34. ↑ Bieber, Justin. "Justin Bieber "Love Me" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  35. ↑ "Marilyn Monroe", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
  36. ↑
  37. ↑ Anselmo Ralph. "Não Me Toca chords - Anselmo Ralph". ultimate-tabs.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  38. ↑ Enrique Iglesias. "Bailando chords by Enrique Iglesias". ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2014-09-24.

Further reading

External links