I–IV–I–V

This progression swings from tonic to subdominant, returns home, and then lifts to the dominant. The return to I in the middle provides a strong grounding effect before the dominant creates forward motion.

Pattern: I – IV – I – V   Example in C Major: C – F – C – G

Genre: pop, rock   Difficulty: beginner

Choose a Key

C Major C – F – C – G G Major G – C – G – D D Major D – G – D – A A Major A – D – A – E E Major E – A – E – B B Major B – E – B – F♯ F♯ Major F♯ – B – F♯ – C♯ F Major F – B♭ – F – C B♭ Major B♭ – E♭ – B♭ – F E♭ Major E♭ – A♭ – E♭ – B♭ A♭ Major A♭ – D♭ – A♭ – E♭ D♭ Major D♭ – G♭ – D♭ – A♭

Song Examples