Chord Progressions
Listen to the chord progression and identify it
About Chord Progressions
Almost every popular song you have ever heard rests on a small set of repeating chord progressions. Learning to hear them by ear is the fastest way to start writing your own songs and figuring out other people's.
Roman Numerals Explained
Musicians describe chord progressions with Roman numerals so a progression can be played in any key. The numerals refer to the chords built on each scale degree:
- I — the chord built on the first scale degree (the "tonic"). Major in major keys.
- ii — the chord on the second degree. Lowercase because it is minor in a major key.
- iii — the chord on the third degree. Also minor.
- IV — the chord on the fourth degree. Major. Often called the "subdominant."
- V — the chord on the fifth degree. Major. The "dominant." This is the chord that wants to resolve back home to I.
- vi — the chord on the sixth degree. Minor. The "relative minor."
- vii° — the chord on the seventh degree. Diminished.
In C major, I–IV–V is C–F–G. In G major, the same progression is G–C–D. The numerals describe the function of each chord; the actual chord names follow from whichever key you are in.
The Progressions You Will Hear Most
| Progression | Mood | Songs that use it |
|---|---|---|
| I–IV–V–I | Stable, classical | Twist and Shout, La Bamba, countless folk songs |
| I–V–vi–IV | Bittersweet, uplifting | Let It Be, Don't Stop Believin', With or Without You |
| vi–IV–I–V | Melancholy, hopeful | Numb (Linkin Park), Apologize, Grenade |
| I–vi–IV–V | '50s doo-wop | Stand By Me, Earth Angel, every doo-wop ballad |
| ii–V–I | Jazz standard | Autumn Leaves, Fly Me to the Moon, most jazz |
| I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V | Pachelbel | Canon in D, plus dozens of pop songs built on its bones |
How to Hear Them
Chord progressions have characteristic motions — the way one chord pulls toward another. With a little training your ear starts to recognize those pulls before you can name the chords.
- Anchor to the tonic (I). Before each progression plays, sing or hum the home note of the key. Every other chord will be heard in relation to that anchor.
- Listen for tension and release. V→I is the strongest resolution in tonal music; it sounds like a door closing. IV→I is gentler. vi feels like a temporary darkness inside a major key.
- Identify the bass line. The lowest note of each chord traces a melody of its own. I–V–vi–IV in C is C–G–A–F, a memorable descending shape.
- Sing the root of each chord. If you can sing it, you can name it. The exercise that takes you from random guessing to confident recognition is rooted in singing.
Tips
- Start on Beginner, which uses only major-key progressions in a single key (C major). Get fluent here before adding minor keys or modulations.
- If two progressions feel identical, listen to the last chord. The chord before the return to I (the "cadence") is often the most distinctive part.
- Practice in the car. Pick any song on the radio, guess the progression, and check yourself when you get home.
- Pair this game with Chord Identification — recognizing individual chords by ear makes recognizing progressions much easier.
Tip: The "Axis of Awesome" progression (I–V–vi–IV) is the basis for hundreds of hit songs. Once you can hear it, you can play half the pop charts on guitar or piano.