Picardy Third (i iv V I)
The Picardy third ending is the chord progression i-iv-V-I. In the key of C minor it is Cm Fm G C, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m 4m 5 1.
It is also known as tierce de Picardie.
Chords from outside the key of C minor: G, C.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A minor cadence whose final chord is unexpectedly major, so the raised third turns the ending bright. It is a Renaissance and Baroque habit that later writers borrowed for a moment of release. The term refers to the last chord, so i-iv-V-I is only one common way to reach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man We Was Lonely | Paul McCartney | bridge ending | Am7 B7 E | E minor |
Picardy Third: 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.
Shorter progressions inside it
- Minor i-iv-V: Cm Fm G
More progressions like this one
- Minor circle of fifths: Cm Fm Bb Eb Ab Dm7b5 G Cm
- Minor i-iv-bVII: Cm Fm Bb
- Minor i-bIII-bVI-bVII: Cm Eb Ab Bb
- Minor i-bVI-iv-V: Cm Ab Fm 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 Picardy third ending in each key?
In C minor: Cm Fm G C. In G minor: Gm Cm D G. In D minor: Dm Gm A D. In A minor: Am Dm E A. In E minor: Em Am B E.
Which songs use the Picardy third ending?
Songs that use it include Man We Was Lonely by Paul McCartney.
