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Pop chord progressions

Pop leans on a few four-chord loops from one key. These are the best known: two that start on the major home chord and two that start on a minor one. Heard here as pop.

I–V–vi–IV

The pop progression · 1-5-6-4

C major
  1. C
  2. G
  3. Am
  4. F

Bright and easy to sing over. It leaves home for V, dips into the minor vi for a moment of feeling and climbs back through IV, so the loop never sounds finished.

Used in pop, rock, country and ballads.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck
In all 12 keys

I–vi–IV–V

The 50s progression · 1-6-4-5

C major
  1. C
  2. Am
  3. F
  4. G

Sweet and a little nostalgic. The minor vi comes second, and the V at the end pulls back to I, so every loop lands home.

Used in doo-wop, soul, oldies and indie.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck
In all 12 keys

vi–IV–I–V

The epic minor · 6-4-1-5

C major
  1. Am
  2. F
  3. C
  4. G

Big and bittersweet. It starts on the minor chord, so it sounds sad, then climbs through three major chords that sound like hope. It is the pop progression started from its minor chord.

Used in anthems, EDM, trap and film.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck
In all 12 keys

i–iv–VI–V

Minor pop

A minor
  1. Am
  2. Dm
  3. F
  4. E

Moody, but it moves: down to iv, up to VI, then a major V borrowed from the harmonic minor that pulls hard back home.

Used in sad pop, house, R&B and K-pop.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck
In all 12 keys

In every key

One chord a bar; a chord held for two bars is written once.

KeyChords
C majorA minor
  • I–V–vi–IVC – G – Am – F
  • I–vi–IV–VC – Am – F – G
  • vi–IV–I–VAm – F – C – G
  • i–iv–VI–VAm – Dm – F – E
D♭ majorB♭ minor
  • I–V–vi–IVD♭ – A♭ – B♭m – G♭
  • I–vi–IV–VD♭ – B♭m – G♭ – A♭
  • vi–IV–I–VB♭m – G♭ – D♭ – A♭
  • i–iv–VI–VB♭m – E♭m – G♭ – F
D majorB minor
  • I–V–vi–IVD – A – Bm – G
  • I–vi–IV–VD – Bm – G – A
  • vi–IV–I–VBm – G – D – A
  • i–iv–VI–VBm – Em – G – F♯
E♭ majorC minor
  • I–V–vi–IVE♭ – B♭ – Cm – A♭
  • I–vi–IV–VE♭ – Cm – A♭ – B♭
  • vi–IV–I–VCm – A♭ – E♭ – B♭
  • i–iv–VI–VCm – Fm – A♭ – G
E majorC♯ minor
  • I–V–vi–IVE – B – C♯m – A
  • I–vi–IV–VE – C♯m – A – B
  • vi–IV–I–VC♯m – A – E – B
  • i–iv–VI–VC♯m – F♯m – A – G♯
F majorD minor
  • I–V–vi–IVF – C – Dm – B♭
  • I–vi–IV–VF – Dm – B♭ – C
  • vi–IV–I–VDm – B♭ – F – C
  • i–iv–VI–VDm – Gm – B♭ – A
F♯ majorD♯ minor
  • I–V–vi–IVF♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B
  • I–vi–IV–VF♯ – D♯m – B – C♯
  • vi–IV–I–VD♯m – B – F♯ – C♯
  • i–iv–VI–VD♯m – G♯m – B – A♯
G majorE minor
  • I–V–vi–IVG – D – Em – C
  • I–vi–IV–VG – Em – C – D
  • vi–IV–I–VEm – C – G – D
  • i–iv–VI–VEm – Am – C – B
A♭ majorF minor
  • I–V–vi–IVA♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭
  • I–vi–IV–VA♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭
  • vi–IV–I–VFm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭
  • i–iv–VI–VFm – B♭m – D♭ – C
A majorF♯ minor
  • I–V–vi–IVA – E – F♯m – D
  • I–vi–IV–VA – F♯m – D – E
  • vi–IV–I–VF♯m – D – A – E
  • i–iv–VI–VF♯m – Bm – D – C♯
B♭ majorG minor
  • I–V–vi–IVB♭ – F – Gm – E♭
  • I–vi–IV–VB♭ – Gm – E♭ – F
  • vi–IV–I–VGm – E♭ – B♭ – F
  • i–iv–VI–VGm – Cm – E♭ – D
B majorG♯ minor
  • I–V–vi–IVB – F♯ – G♯m – E
  • I–vi–IV–VB – G♯m – E – F♯
  • vi–IV–I–VG♯m – E – B – F♯
  • i–iv–VI–VG♯m – C♯m – E – D♯

More progressions

Or pick a mood and a key in the chord progression generator.

Frequently asked questions

What are the four chords in most pop songs?

I, V, vi and IV: C, G, Am and F in C major. Played from the vi (Am, F, C, G) they are the same four chords with a sadder start.

Do these progressions work in any key?

Yes. The Roman numerals say which notes of the key each chord is built on, so the same progression works in all 12 keys. The table above has every one, with the chords named.

How do I make a song with one?

Press Use in a beat. The free editor opens with a four-bar beat on those chords: drums, bass and the chords, each its own part. Change a chord, add a melody, record over it or ask for new drums, one part at a time. No account is needed to start; a free account saves your project.

Build a song on these chords

Use in a beat opens the free editor with drums, bass and the chords. Add a melody, record over it or change any part, one at a time.

Use I–V–vi–IV in a beatAll chord progressions

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