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I–IV–V–IV chord progression

Rock and roll loop — I–IV–V–IV · also called the 1–4–5–4

  • Rock and roll loop

    I – IV – V – IV

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

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Used in: Wild Thing (The Troggs) · Hang On Sloopy (The McCoys)

  • Axis progression

    I – V – vi – IV

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

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Used in: Let It Be (The Beatles) · I'm Yours (Jason Mraz) · No Woman, No Cry (Bob Marley) · With or Without You (U2)

    Chords in every key →

  • Axis rotation

    vi – IV – I – V

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

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Used in: Complicated (Avril Lavigne) · Despacito (Luis Fonsi) · Save Tonight (Eagle-Eye Cherry) · Otherside (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

    Chords in every key →

  • '50s progression

    I – vi – IV – V

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

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Used in: Stand by Me (Ben E. King) · Every Breath You Take (The Police) · Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers) · Earth Angel (The Penguins)

    Chords in every key →

  • Three-chord progression

    I – IV – V

    1. C
    2. F
    3. G

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Used in: La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) · Twist and Shout (The Beatles) · Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones)

    Chords in every key →

  • Mixolydian rock progression

    I – ♭VII – IV

    1. C
    2. B♭
    3. F

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Used in: Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd) · Sympathy for the Devil (The Rolling Stones) · Hey Jude (outro) (The Beatles)

    Chords in every key →

  • Songwriter turnaround

    I – vi – ii – V

    1. C
    2. Am
    3. Dm
    4. G

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Used in: Blue Moon (Richard Rodgers) · Heart and Soul (Hoagy Carmichael)

    Chords in every key →

  • Royal road progression

    IV – V – iii – vi

    1. F
    2. G
    3. Em
    4. Am

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

    Chords in every key →

Samples: Salamander Grand Piano (CC-BY 3.0)

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I–IV–V–IV chord progression — how it works

The I–IV–V–IV progression turns the three primary chords into a four-bar loop by stepping back through IV on the way home, giving the rocking, back-and-forth feel of garage rock.

It moves from the tonic (I) to the subdominant (IV) to the dominant (V) to the subdominant (IV) and then repeats. Each chord lasts 4 beats, so one pass of the 4 chords is 4 bars of 4/4.

In C major the chords are C – F – G – F; in G major they are G – C – D – C. Press play above to hear the progression, then pick the key that fits your voice or your song and set the tempo you want to practise at.

I–IV–V–IV in every key

The numerals stay the same; only the chords change. Find your key below, or pick it in the player above to hear it.

KeyChords
C majorC – F – G – F
D♭ majorD♭ – G♭ – A♭ – G♭
D majorD – G – A – G
E♭ majorE♭ – A♭ – B♭ – A♭
E majorE – A – B – A
F majorF – B♭ – C – B♭
F♯ majorF♯ – B – C♯ – B
G majorG – C – D – C
A♭ majorA♭ – D♭ – E♭ – D♭
A majorA – D – E – D
B♭ majorB♭ – E♭ – F – E♭
B majorB – E – F♯ – E

Songs that use it

Well-known songs built on this progression, at least in the section each is known for:

  • Wild Thing — The Troggs
  • Hang On Sloopy — The McCoys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the I–IV–V–IV progression in C major?
In C major the I–IV–V–IV progression is C – F – G – F. The same numerals give G – C – D – C in G major; the table above lists all twelve keys.
What is the I–IV–V–IV progression called?
I–IV–V–IV is known as the Rock and roll loop, and also as the 1–4–5–4. The I–IV–V–IV progression turns the three primary chords into a four-bar loop by stepping back through IV on the way home, giving the rocking, back-and-forth feel of garage rock.
How long is the I–IV–V–IV progression?
Each chord lasts 4 beats, so one pass of the 4 chords is 4 bars of 4/4. Loop it to keep the harmony going under a verse or a solo.
What songs use the I–IV–V–IV progression?
"Wild Thing" by The Troggs and "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys are built on it, at least in the section each is known for.