The Three Chord Progression

Three chords are all you need to play thousands of songs on the guitar.

The I-IV-V, or 1-4-5, is one of the most common chord progressions in music, and it works across many genres. In the key of C the chords are C F G, and in the key of G they are G C D.

Here we will see where this progression comes from and why it has so many uses. When you are ready to play it, jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E.

Why These Three Chords?

If you haven't studied any basic music theory yet, now is a good time to start or brush up.

Western music uses 12 notes, and the distances between them make all the difference in how they sound. These distances are called intervals, and they are the best place to start for ear training.

The fourth, the fifth and the octave are known as perfect intervals. They are consonant and strong, and even in unusual modes and scales it is common to resolve back to them.

The chords built on these degrees share the same qualities. They are known as the tonic (I), the subdominant (IV) and the dominant (V). Together they contain all seven notes of the major scale, so they can harmonize any melody in the key.

The other chords of the key bring flavor to the music, but these three can survive all alone. In fact, bringing in other chords can change the mood.

If you want a strong composition that stands out, the I-IV-V is the way to go.

The same idea applies to the four chord progression.

To find these chords in any key, take the 1st, 4th and 5th degrees of its major scale. My Roman Numbers vs Nashville Number System tutorial has a chart of every degree in every key, and it explains the notation too. You can also see the most common guitar keys.

Genres That Use the 1 4 5 Chords

It would be hard to find a genre that doesn't use the I-IV-V. It is most common in folk and popular music, because simple consonance appeals to everyone.

Play a simple C-F-G and back to C again, and notice that the F is the "weakest" of those chords. The I and V are the strongest and can hold a song on their own, while the IV pulls away from home and builds tension.

Songs with just I and V, or just I and IV, get a little repetitive. One extra chord is all you need to write some great music.

Keep in mind that some songs use it the whole time, and others only for specific sections.

You will quickly find a lot of variation and different orders. A lot of early blues follows I-IV-I-V-I, which goes back to the tonic before moving to the V.

Another trick is to play the V as a V7, a favorite in blues, jazz, country and rock. It adds a little more tension to an already solid progression, as in Blue Suede Shoes.

These three simple chords, with some added tones, can be an entire career of guitar playing.

Many musicians have found fame on the I-IV-V7 alone!

The Closed Version: The Bergamasca

Written as I-IV-V-I, this is the same loop with the return home spelled out. As the Bergamasca (also bergamask or bergomask), it was a dance and variation pattern from Bergamo, played over this repeating harmony. It is the simplest complete tonal phrase: tonic, subdominant, dominant, tonic, with the V to I cadence closing every cycle.

Variations of the Three Chord Progression

Try different orders, like the blues I IV I V I, or I IV V IV, the loop behind "Wild Thing". Reversing the chords gives the V-IV-I turnaround of "Bad Moon Rising".

Of course, once the home chord changes we are no longer playing a I-IV-V. C-F-G feels different from G-F-C with G as home, which is a I-bVII-IV. It still sounds great, but it's a new progression, not a variation.

However, don't let the details of music theory stop you from experimenting. Try any order that sounds good to you.

Not Only Major and Minor Chords

Just playing I-IV-V all the time does get boring, and a little extra can really stand out. The V7 mentioned above is the most used extension, but you can also try sixth chords, ninths and add9 chords. When you want more than a little extra, explore these uncommon chord progressions picked by guitar teachers.

You can also drop notes instead of adding them. Using just the 1 and 5 of the chord gives you a power chord, which is very common in rock, alternative and metal. "Blitzkrieg Bop" is all power chords, which leaves a solid base to sing, riff and solo over. "Good Riddance" mixes both ideas with a I5-IVadd9-V5.

Major to Minor

Besides extensions there are also substitutions, and the most obvious one is a minor chord in place of a major. "Louie Louie" plays a I-IV-v-IV, and that minor v is what makes it stand out. Play the V and then the v on your guitar and hear how much it changes.

Uppercase numerals are major chords and lowercase numerals are minor. Make all three chords minor and you get the i-iv-v, which is a different key and a much darker sound.

Once we jumble the order too much or change the chords to minor, we move away from that major and uplifting feeling.

1 4 5 as a Foundation for Substitutions

Some substitutions will take you into new territory and away from the original consonance, but this is not always a bad thing.

In the end, the best way to learn the varieties of the I-IV-V is to play as many songs as you can across genres. Once you can hear the I, IV and V, you can start to work out song chords by ear.

These chords are the backbone of western music, and you will soon see that it's hard to play guitar without running into them.

To learn more progressions, in all keys, check my 52 Chord Progressions ebook, and don't forget to subscribe here.

Three 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.

Key of C major

C

F

G

Key of G major

G

C

D

Key of D major

D

G

A

Key of A major

A

D

E

Key of E major

E

A

B

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