IV-iii-ii-I Chord Progression
The Stepwise descent to I is the chord progression IV-iii-ii-I. In the key of C major it is F Em Dm C, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 4 3m 2m 1.
It is also known as diatonic walk-down, Prinner bass.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Parallel diatonic chords walk down the scale from IV to I, a gentle landing that closes a phrase without V. The bass 4-3-2-1 is the bass of the galant Prinner, but the real Prinner also needs the melody 6-5-4-3 above it, so this root-position form is only a pop relative. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lean on Me | Bill Withers | intro and verse | F Em Dm C | C major |
| What a Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | verse | F Em Dm C (plays IVmaj7-iii7-ii7-Imaj7) | F major |
| Let It Be | The Beatles | bridge | F Em Dm C | C major |
| Stand by Your Man | Tammy Wynette | chorus | D C#m Bm A | A major |
| Lovin' You | Minnie Riperton | verse and chorus | Cmaj7 Bm7 Am7 Gmaj7 | A major |
IV-iii-ii-I 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.
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the Stepwise descent to I in each key?
In C major: F Em Dm C. In G major: C Bm Am G. In D major: G F#m Em D. In A major: D C#m Bm A. In E major: A G#m F#m E.
Which songs use the Stepwise descent to I?
Songs that use it include Lean on Me by Bill Withers, What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, Let It Be by The Beatles.
