I vi IV ii Chord Progression

In the key of C major the I-vi-IV-ii progression is C Am F Dm. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 6m 4 2m.

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

Why it works

Descending thirds: C-A-F-D, each chord a third below the last, and each one shares two notes with the next. That makes it extremely smooth. The final ii works as a pre-dominant that leads back to the start or into V.

How to use it

Long chord progressions are often made up of smaller ones from previous weeks. This one starts like the I-vi-IV-V and swaps the V for a ii. And it is a matter of balance when deciding where to put your minors, here the 6m and 2m sit between the major chords.

Songs that use it

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

Song	Artist	Section	Chords	Key
American Honey	Lady Antebellum	verse	C Am7 Fmaj7 Dm7	Db major
Exit Wounds	The Script	chorus	C Am F Dm	C major
Jigsaw	Conan Gray	chorus	A F#m D Bm	A major
Ophelia	PinkPantheress	chorus	B G#m7 Emaj7 C#m7	B major
The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!	Sufjan Stevens	verse	E C#m A F#m	E major

I vi IV ii 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

Key of G major

Key of D major

Key of A major

F#m

Key of E major

C#m

F#m

More progressions like this one

All guitar chord progressions →

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What are the chords of the I-vi-IV-ii progression in each key?

In C major: C Am F Dm. In G major: G Em C Am. In D major: D Bm G Em. In A major: A F#m D Bm. In E major: E C#m A F#m.

Which songs use the I-vi-IV-ii progression?

Songs that use it include American Honey by Lady Antebellum, Exit Wounds by The Script, Jigsaw by Conan Gray.