I vi V IV Chord Progression
In the key of C major the I-vi-V-IV progression is C Am G F. In the Nashville Number System it is written 1 6m 5 4.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The doo-wop chords with V and IV swapped, so the phrase falls from V through IV back to I instead of rising into V. That removes the cadence and gives a relaxed, open country and folk feel. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take Me Home, Country Roads | John Denver | verse | A F#m E D | A major |
| Photograph | Ed Sheeran | intro and verse | E C#m B A | E major |
I vi V IV 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-IV: C F
- I-V: C G
- Three-chord progression: C F G
- 50s progression: C Am F G
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-vi-V-IV progression in each key?
In C major: C Am G F. In G major: G Em D C. In D major: D Bm A G. In A major: A F#m E D. In E major: E C#m B A.
Which songs use the I-vi-V-IV progression?
Songs that use it include Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver, Photograph by Ed Sheeran.
