This is the most popular chord progression in use today. It has replaced the most common chord progression that was used in the 50s, the 1 6 2 5 chord progression.
Subjects(s): Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced • Songwriting • Repertoire • Progressions • Pop • Famous
This is the most popular chord progression in use today. It has replaced the most common chord progression that was used in the 50s, the 1 6 2 5 chord progression.
Available for Premium Site Access Plans Only
If the I V VI IV (1 5 6 4) progression where in the key of C Major the chords are: C G Am F. For the key of G Major the chords are: G D Em C.
- All to Well — Taylor Swift
- Don't Stop Believing — Journey
- Dammit — Blink 182
- Hey Soul Sister — Train
- It's My Life — Bon Jovi
- I'm Yours — Jason Mraz
- Let it Be — Beatles
- No Woman No Cry — Bob Marley
- Simple Man — Lynard Skynard
- So Lonely — Police
- Someone Like You — Adele
- Take Me Home, Country Roads — John Denver
- Wagon Wheel — Bob Dylan
- When I Come Around — Green Day
- With Or Without You — U2
This is the most popular chord progression in use today. It has replaced the most common chord progression that was used in the 50s, the 1 6 2 5 chord progression.
Available for Premium Site Access Plans Only
If the I V VI IV (1 5 6 4) progression where in the key of C Major the chords are: C G Am F. For the key of G Major the chords are: G D Em C.
- All to Well — Taylor Swift
- Don't Stop Believing — Journey
- Dammit — Blink 182
- Hey Soul Sister — Train
- It's My Life — Bon Jovi
- I'm Yours — Jason Mraz
- Let it Be — Beatles
- No Woman No Cry — Bob Marley
- Simple Man — Lynard Skynard
- So Lonely — Police
- Someone Like You — Adele
- Take Me Home, Country Roads — John Denver
- Wagon Wheel — Bob Dylan
- When I Come Around — Green Day
- With Or Without You — U2
The Four Chord Pop Progression
More songs using this progression as the foundation for the majority of the song.
- 1234 — Plain White Tees
- America's Funniest Home Videos Theme
- American Pie
- Apologize — Timberland featuring OneRepublic
- Auld Lang Syne — Robert Burns
- Behind These Hazel Eyes — Kelly Clarkson
- Barbie Girl — Aqua
- Beautiful — Akon
- Best Friends — Dog Party
- Birdplane — The Axis of Awesome
- Bullet With Butterfly Wings — The Smashing Pumpkins
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight — Elton John (from The Lion King)
- Complicated — Avril Lavigne
- Don't Matter — Akon
- Double Rainbow — The Gregory Brothers
- Fall at Your Feet — Crowded House /li>
- Forever Young — Alphaville
- If I Were A Boy — Beyonce
- In My Head — Jason DeRulo
- Kids — MGMT
- Love the Way You Lie — Eminem featuring Rihanna
- Land Down Under — Men At Work
- Lavern and Shirley TV Theme —
- Let it Go — Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez from Frozen
- No One — Alicia Keys
- One Of Us — Joan Osborne
- Otherside — Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Over the Rainbow
- Paparazzi — Lady Gaga
- Pictures of You — The Last Goodnight
- Pokerface — Lady Gaga
- Save Tonight — Eagle Eye Cherry
- Scar — Missy Higgins
- Self Esteem — The Offspring
- Sex and Candy — Marcy Playground
- Superman — Five for Fighting
- Take On Me — A Ha
- Time To Say Goodbye — Andrea Bocelli
- Take On Me — Ah Ha
- Taylor — Jack Johnson
- The Call — Regina Spector
- The Show — Lenka
- Two Become One — Spice Girls
- Wherever You Will Go — The Calling
- You're Beautiful — James Blunt
- You're Gonna Go Far Kid — The Offspring
- She Will Be Loved — Maroon Five
- Say — John Mayer, (from the movie The Bucket List)
- Where Is the Love — Black Eyed Peas
Here's a web site that has to videos of many of the songs on this list.
As you can see you can learn quite a few songs by simply learning common chord progressions in all 15 keys. Especially the common keys of C, G, D, E, A. And on ukulele F and Bb are also common.
All 15 Keys ( 1 5 6 4 )
- | C | G/B* | Am | F |
Sharp Keys
The will take you a lessons the the Key/Key Signature for the key
.
Slash Chords
* Slash Chords - A slash chord is an indication that a chord voicing with the note after the slash should be voiced with the that note as the lowest note in the bass . In the case of this common 1 5 6 4 progression is creates a descending bass line. On ukulele unless you using a low string four tuning slash chord are commonly ignored and the fundamental chord, the name before the slash is played.
A closely related progression is:
VI IV I V
This 6 4 1 5 is very closely related to the 1 5 6 4 Four Chord Pop Progressions above. Just starts at a different part of the progression.
- Africa — Toto
- Numb — Linkin Park
- River FLow In You — Yiruma
iReal Pro - Practice Made Perfect • The essential instrument for every musician. Master your art by practicing with the world's most versatile virtual band, tirelessly accompanying you in any style, tempo or key. With thousands of chord charts in your pocket, you'll always be prepared for the next jam session.
Available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Android.
NOTE: - I (Curt, LearningUkulele.com, Learning Ukulele with Curt) Have been using iReal Pro , bought and paid for on several platforms ever since it first came on to music scene. It is a great tool and one I use with all students as well in my daily, personal practice sessions. iReal Pro was made by a very small team of passionate people led by Massimo Biolcati, a jazz musician in NYC who taught himself to code for his first iPhone so that he could build his dream app.
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.
Covering basic ukulele chords that ALL uke players MUST know, movable chord forms, rock uke chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and an introduction to 4-part jazz chords and more... FOR LEFTIES - Tunings: C, G, or D Tunings. Low or high string four variations.
Learn a variety of strums and rhythmic patterns in wide range of musical styles. One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming, playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer, singer - songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.
Exploring jazz chords using a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire. Core Chords are the basic set of chords needed to play a wide range of music, in a variety of styles. This set of chords includes basic open position chords, basic movable form chords and the core 4-part "jazz" chords.
Modular Phonetic Rhythm represents a significant advance in the teaching and application of rhythm. Eliminating many inefficient aspects of rhythm education, Modular Phonetic Rhythm streamlines the traditional educational approach, resulting in a reflexive reaction to rhythm.
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
return in your investment)—it is this— learning the
f*ckingnotes of your OWN instrument. Sorry for the tough talks—but it is sooooo true!
Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think. Book: Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer
An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing. Book: Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele
Checkout the Books & Reference Charts for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.
Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A
Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E
A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4
