vi I V IV Chord Progression
In the key of C major the vi-I-V-IV progression is Am C G F. In the Nashville Number System it is written 6m 1 5 4.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The Axis chords in a different order: the minor tonic rises to its relative major, then the line falls through V and IV. It stays poised between minor and major, which gives modern pop rock its anthemic but moody sound. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counting Stars | OneRepublic | verse and chorus | C#m E B A | C# minor |
| Renegades | X Ambassadors | verse and chorus | Bm D A G | D major |
| Galway Girl | Ed Sheeran | verse | F#m A E D | A major |
vi 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
- I-vi-V-IV: C Am G F
- I-IV: C F
- I-V: C G
- Three-chord progression: C F 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 vi-I-V-IV progression in each key?
In C major: Am C G F. In G major: Em G D C. In D major: Bm D A G. In A major: F#m A E D. In E major: C#m E B A.
Which songs use the vi-I-V-IV progression?
Songs that use it include Counting Stars by OneRepublic, Renegades by X Ambassadors, Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran.
