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Chord progressions

A progression is the order a song moves through its chords. Roman numerals name each chord by the scale note it is built on, so I–IV–V means the same thing in every key: in C it is C, F and G; in G it is G, C and D. Capital numerals are major chords, lower case are minor.

• I–IV–V–IThree-chord rock and blues · C F G C
• I–V–vi–IVThe four-chord pop song · C G Am F
• I–vi–IV–VFifties doo-wop · C Am F G
• I–♭VII–IV–IClassic rock, with the borrowed ♭VII · C B♭ F C

How to tell them apart

All four start on I, the home chord. The second chord gives each one away:

• IV lifts to a bright major chord: I–IV–V–I
• V climbs to the brightest chord in the key: I–V–vi–IV
• vi falls to a minor chord: I–vi–IV–V
• ♭VII drops a whole step to a major chord: I–♭VII–IV–I