IV I V vi Chord Progression
In the key of C major the IV-I-V-vi progression is F C G Am. In the Nashville Number System it is written 4 1 5 6m.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A rotation of I-V-vi-IV that begins on the subdominant and ends on V-vi, a deceptive cadence. Open Music Theory treats it as a variant of the singer/songwriter schema. Ending on vi leaves the loop hanging, so it suits verses that need to lead forward.
How to use it
Another variation of the popular 1,4,5, and 6m; in this case we have our tension and resolution focused on the IV and vi. When using almost any order of these particular chords you will find many hit songs associated with it.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umbrella | Rihanna | chorus | Gb Db Ab Bbm | Db major |
| Down | Jay Sean | chorus | G D A Bm7 | D major |
| As If It's Your Last | Blackpink | chorus | C G D Em (capo 1 shapes) | Ab major |
| Bad Blood | Taylor Swift | chorus | F C G Am (capo 7 shapes) | G major |
| Whatever It Takes | Imagine Dragons | chorus | F C G Am (capo 1 shapes) | Bb minor |
IV I V vi 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.
Same loop, different starting chord
- Axis progression: C G Am F
- Singer-songwriter progression: Am F C G
More progressions like this one
- I-IV-vi-V: C F Am G
- I-iii-IV-V: C Em F G
- I-vi-iii-V: C Am Em G
- ii-iii-V-vi: Dm Em G Am
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 IV-I-V-vi progression in each key?
In C major: F C G Am. In G major: C G D Em. In D major: G D A Bm. In A major: D A E F#m. In E major: A E B C#m.
Which songs use the IV-I-V-vi progression?
Songs that use it include Umbrella by Rihanna, Down by Jay Sean, As If It's Your Last by Blackpink.
