ii-IV-V Chord Progression
The ii-IV-V climb is the chord progression ii-IV-V. In the key of C major it is Dm F G, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 2m 4 5.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A minor start that climbs from ii through IV to V, building tension that releases on I. It usually resolves to I straight after. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ballroom Blitz | Sweet | chorus | F#m A B E | E Mixolydian |
| If It Makes You Happy | Sheryl Crow | chorus | Am C D G | G major |
| I Believe in a Thing Called Love | The Darkness | verse | Gm Bb C F | F major |
ii-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
- I-vi: C Am
- vi-IV: Am F
- Stepwise descent to I: F Em Dm C
- I-V-ii-IV: C G Dm 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 ii-IV-V climb in each key?
In C major: Dm F G. In G major: Am C D. In D major: Em G A. In A major: Bm D E. In E major: F#m A B.
Which songs use the ii-IV-V climb?
Songs that use it include The Ballroom Blitz by Sweet, If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow, I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness.
