UPDATED
Nov 27, 2020
Four Chord Pop Progressions - I V VI IV ( 1 5 6 4 )
PUBLISHED: Sep 16, 2013 UPDATED: Nov 27, 2020 • VIEWS: 131 • LESSON CODE: UL59g •
Instruments: ANY ukulele Subjects: beginner • intermediate • advanced • progressions • songwriting • repertoire
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Four Chord Pop Progressions - I V VI IV ( 1 5 6 4 )
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.
In the key of C major this is: C G Am F.
In the Nashville Number System the sequence is:
<p class="text-2xl text-center"><b>1 5 6 4</b></p>
A 2009 recording by the comedy group The Axis of Awesome, their “Four Chord Song”, in E major ( E B C#m A ), is a widely viewed clip on YouTube.
The V is often replaced by III. In the key of C major this is: C Em Am F.
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I V VI IV
In the key of C major this progression is: C G Am F.
A 2009 recording by the comedy group The Axis of Awesome, their "Four Chord Song", in E major (E B C#m A), is a widely viewed clip on YouTube .
The V is often replaced by III. In the key of C major this is: C Em Am F.
As you can see from the list below here there are quite a few songs that use this progression for the entire song or part of the song.
- WidipediA: I V VI IV
If the 1 5 6 4 progression where in the key of C major the 1 6 4 5 chords are: C G Am F. For the key of G major the 1 5 6 4 chords are: G D Em C.
- Africa - Toto
- Apologize - Timberland featuring One Republic
- Auld Lang Syne - Robert Burns
- Barbie Girl - Aqua
- Beautiful - Akon
- Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson
- 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
- Dammit - Blink 182
- Don't Matter - Akon
- Don't Stop Believing - Journey
- Double Rainbow - The Gregory Brothers
- Forever Young - Alphaville
- Hey Soul Sister - Train
- I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
- If I Were A Boy - Beyonce
- In My Head - Jason DeRulo
- It's My Life - Bon Jovi
- Kids - MGMT
- Land Down Under - Men At Work
- Let It Be - The Beatles
- Love the Way You Lie - Eminem featuring Rihanna
- No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley
- One Of Us - Joan Osborne
- Otherside - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- 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
- She Will Be Loved - Maroon Fivev
- Superman - Five for Fighting
- Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
- Take On Me - A Ha
- Taylor - Jack Johnson
- Theme from America's Funniest Home Videos
- Time To Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli
- Two Become One - Spice Girls
- When I Come Around - Green Day
- Where Is the Love - Black Eyed Peas
- Wherever You Will Go - The Calling
- With Or Without You - U2
- You're Beautiful - James Blunt
- You're Gonna Go Far Kid - The Offspring
Songs that part of the songs are using this progression.
- American Pie - Don McLean
- The Call - Regina Spektor
- Say - John Mayer, from the movie "The Bucket List"
- The Show - Lenka
- Best Friend - Dog Party
Here's a web site that has links to videos of many of the songs on this list.
As you can see you can learn quite a few songs by simply learning this common chord progression 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
- |G | G | D/F# | Em | C |
- |D | D | A/C# | Bm | G |
- |A | A | E/G# | F#m | D |
- |E | E | B/D# | C#m | A |
- |B | B | F#/A# | G#m | E |
- |F# | F# | C#/E# | D#m | B |
- |C# | C# | G#/B# | A#m | F# |
Flat Keys
- |F | F* | C/E | Dm | Bb |
- |Bb | Bb | F/A# | Gm | Eb |
- |Eb | Eb | Bb/D | Gm | Ab |
- |Ab | Ab | Eb/G | Fm | Db |
- |Db | Db | Ab/C | Bbm | Gb |
- |Gb | Gb | Db/F | Ebm | Cb |
- |Cb | Cb | Gb/Bb | Abm | Fb |
Slash Chords
Slash Chords - A slash chord is indication that a chord voicing with the note after the slash should be the bass note of the voicing. 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 are played.
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