IV–iv–I in C Major

Pattern: IV – iv – I Chords: F – Fm – C

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
IV	F (details)	major	Subdominant
iv	Fm (details)	minor	Subdominant
I	C (details)	major	Tonic

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through F (Subdominant) → Fm (Subdominant) → C (Tonic).

A plagal cadence enhanced by modal mixture, darkening the major IV to minor iv before resolving to the tonic. The chromatic lowering of the sixth scale degree creates a poignant, ♭ittersweet quality beloved by Romantic-era composers.

Song Examples

Prelude in C Major, Op. 28 No. 1 — Frederic Chopin
Liebestraum No. 3 — Franz Liszt

Chord Details

F Fm C

More Progressions in C Major

I–IV–V–I I–V–vi–IV I–vi–IV–V ii–V–I I–IV–V I–♭VII–IV vi–IV–I–V I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V I–IV I–V IV–V IV–I