I II IV I Chord Progression

In the key of C major the I-II-IV-I progression is C D F C. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 2 4 1.

It is also known as Lydian cadence.

The same loop is also written II-IV-I.

Chords from outside the key of C major: D.

Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E

Why it works

The II is a major chord, so its F# is foreign to C major and points to Lydian, or works as a secondary dominant of V that never resolves there. Instead it moves to IV, so the F# slides down to F. That half-step gives a bright, floating lift typical of 60s and 70s pop rock.

The same loop as Lydian cadence (II-IV-I)

The major II brings in the raised fourth of the Lydian mode, and the next chord cancels it straight away with the natural fourth, which makes a smooth chromatic line. Open Music Theory calls it the most popular progression using this chord.

How to use it

This is sometimes called a lydian progression, because the major II borrows the raised fourth of the Lydian mode. Notice it uses a major II instead of the regular ii. And here we use a IV instead of a V to move back to the root. It is a very common progression in more than a few Beatles songs and similar pop bands.

Songs that use it

These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.

I II IV I Chord Progression: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E

Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.

Key of C major

C   D   F   C

C

D

F

Key of G major

G   A   C   G

G

A

C

Key of D major

D   E   G   D

D

E

G

Key of A major

A   B   D   A

A

B

D

Key of E major

E   F#   A   E

E

F#

A

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