Wild Thing Chord Progression (I IV V IV)
The Wild Thing loop is the chord progression I-IV-V-IV. In the key of C major it is C F G F, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1 4 5 4.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The three primary triads climb from I to V and then step back through IV, so the loop rocks up and down without ever making a V to I cadence. That gives it a riff-like, garage rock feel. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Thing | The Troggs | verse | A D E D | A major |
| Hang On Sloopy | The McCoys | chorus | G C D C | G major |
| Stacy's Mom | Fountains of Wayne | intro and verse | E A B A | E major |
| The Joker | Steve Miller Band | verse | F Bb C Bb | F major |
Wild Thing 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.
Shorter progressions inside it
- Three-chord progression: C F G
More progressions like this one
- Louie Louie progression: C F Gm F
- I-V-IV-V: C G F G
- V-IV-I turnaround: G F C
- vi-IV-I: Am F C
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 Wild Thing loop in each key?
In C major: C F G F. In G major: G C D C. In D major: D G A G. In A major: A D E D. In E major: E A B A.
Which songs use the Wild Thing loop?
Songs that use it include Wild Thing by The Troggs, Hang On Sloopy by The McCoys, Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne.
