I V IV V Chord Progression
In the key of C major the I-V-IV-V progression is C G F G. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 5 4 5.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A rocking loop in which V sits on both sides of IV, so the dominant keeps returning and pushes the phrase back to I. It sounds bright and driving, and it is common in pop punk and power ballads alike. It is diatonic to the major scale.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All the Small Things | Blink-182 | verse | C G F G | C major |
| MMMBop | Hanson | intro and verse | A E D E | A major |
| What's Love Got to Do with It | Tina Turner | chorus | B F# E F# | B major |
| (Everything I Do) I Do It for You | Bryan Adams | intro and verse | Db Ab Gb Ab | Db major |
| Walk of Life | Dire Straits | intro | E B A B | E major |
I V IV V 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
- V-IV-I turnaround: G F C
- vi-IV-I: Am F C
- IV-V-vi: F G Am
- I-iii-vi-IV: C Em Am F
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-V-IV-V progression in each key?
In C major: C G F G. In G major: G D C D. In D major: D A G A. In A major: A E D E. In E major: E B A B.
Which songs use the I-V-IV-V progression?
Songs that use it include All the Small Things by Blink-182, MMMBop by Hanson, What's Love Got to Do with It by Tina Turner.
