Minor i-v-iv Chord Progression
The Minor i-v-iv is the chord progression i-v-iv. In the key of C minor it is Cm Gm Fm, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m 5m 4m.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A natural minor loop that uses a minor v, so there is no leading tone and no real pull to the tonic. The bass steps from v down to iv, then iv falls back to i. The sound is smooth and laid-back, and it is a favourite in disco-influenced pop.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levitating | Dua Lipa | verse and chorus | Bm7 F#m7 Em7 | B minor |
| Mirrors | Justin Timberlake | outro | Cm Gm Fm | C minor |
| Never as Good as the First Time | Sade | verse | F#m9 C#m7 Bm7 | F# minor |
| i | Kendrick Lamar | chorus | Cm7 Gm7 Fm9 | C minor |
Minor i-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
- Minor i-v-bVI-bVII: Cm Gm Ab Bb
- Subtonic shuttle (minor): Cm Bb
- Minor i-iv vamp: Cm Fm
- Minor tonic-dominant vamp: Cm 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 Minor i-v-iv in each key?
In C minor: Cm Gm Fm. In G minor: Gm Dm Cm. In D minor: Dm Am Gm. In A minor: Am Em Dm. In E minor: Em Bm Am.
Which songs use the Minor i-v-iv?
Songs that use it include Levitating by Dua Lipa, Mirrors by Justin Timberlake, Never as Good as the First Time by Sade.
