I iii Chord Progression
In the key of C major the I-iii progression is C Em. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 3m.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
I and iii share two notes (E and G), so the shuttle changes only one voice, C to B. It is a soft, slightly melancholy colour change more than a progression.
How to use it
Just as simple I-IV and I-V two chord progressions exist, we can also find songs using just the I and iii. It is often used in short passages.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Immortal | Evanescence | verse | A C#m | A major |
| Space Oddity | David Bowie | verse | C Em | C major |
| Ize of the World | The Strokes | chorus | E G#m | E major |
| Serve the Servants | Nirvana | chorus | Ab Cm | Ab major |
| Need You Now | Lady Antebellum | chorus | E G#m E G#m A | E major |
| Eye in the Sky | The Alan Parsons Project | chorus | D F#m | D major |
I iii 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.
More progressions like this one
- I-ii-IV: C Dm F
- I-vi-IV-ii: C Am F Dm
- Singer-songwriter progression: Am F C G
- Hopscotch progression: F G Am C
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the I-iii progression in each key?
In C major: C Em. In G major: G Bm. In D major: D F#m. In A major: A C#m. In E major: E G#m.
Which songs use the I-iii progression?
Songs that use it include My Immortal by Evanescence, Space Oddity by David Bowie, Ize of the World by The Strokes.
