Important chord progressions

2023-04-25

Here are some famous and important chord progressions:

1. I-IV-V: This is perhaps the most common chord progression in Western popular music. It consists of the tonic chord (I), the subdominant chord (IV), and the dominant chord (V). An example of a song that uses this progression is "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles.

2. ii-V-I: This is a common chord progression in jazz and other forms of music that rely heavily on harmony. It consists of the supertonic chord (ii), the dominant chord (V), and the tonic chord (I). An example of a song that uses this progression is "Autumn Leaves" by Eva Cassidy.

3. I-vi-IV-V: This chord progression is often referred to as the "50s progression" and is commonly used in doo-wop and other forms of popular music. It consists of the tonic chord (I), the relative minor chord (vi), the subdominant chord (IV), and the dominant chord (V). The progression is a series of four chords: C-Am-F-G in the key of C. It is characterized by a simple and catchy melody, a shuffle or swing rhythm, and often features vocal harmonies or a call-and-response structure between the lead vocalist and backing vocalists. The 50s progression has been used in countless songs throughout the decades and is still a common feature in modern pop music. An example of a song that uses this progression is "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles.

4. I-V-vi-IV: This chord progression is commonly used in pop music and is sometimes referred to as the "Axis of Awesome" progression, as it forms the basis of many popular songs. It is also called "Four-Chord-Song" progression. It consists of the tonic chord (I), the dominant chord (V), the relative minor chord (vi), and the subdominant chord (IV). For example, in the key of C major, this progression would be: C-G-Am-F.
Rotations include:
V-vi-IV-I : G-Am-F-C
vi-IV-I-V : Am-F-C-G
IV-I-V-vi : F-C-G-Am
An example of songs that use this progression is "The Spectre" by Alan Walker or "Hey Brother" by Avicii.

5. I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V: This chord progression is used in "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel.

These are just a few examples of famous and important chord progressions. There are many others out there, and they all contribute to the rich and varied history of Western music.

List of chord progressions