I–V–vi–IV chord progression
Axis progression — I–V–vi–IV · also called the the four-chord song, 1–5–6–4
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Be the first to rate this toolI–V–vi–IV chord progression — how it works
The I–V–vi–IV progression is the most-used four-chord loop in pop: it leaves home, lifts to the dominant, dips into the relative minor for a shade of melancholy and comes back through the subdominant, so it feels both hopeful and endlessly repeatable.
It moves from the tonic (I) to the dominant (V) to the submediant (vi) 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 – G – Am – F; in G major they are G – D – Em – 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–V–vi–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.
| Key | Chords |
|---|---|
| C major | C – G – Am – F |
| D♭ major | D♭ – A♭ – B♭m – G♭ |
| D major | D – A – Bm – G |
| E♭ major | E♭ – B♭ – Cm – A♭ |
| E major | E – B – C♯m – A |
| F major | F – C – Dm – B♭ |
| F♯ major | F♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B |
| G major | G – D – Em – C |
| A♭ major | A♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭ |
| A major | A – E – F♯m – D |
| B♭ major | B♭ – F – Gm – E♭ |
| B major | B – F♯ – G♯m – E |
Songs that use it
Well-known songs built on this progression, at least in the section each is known for:
- Let It Be — The Beatles
- I'm Yours — Jason Mraz
- No Woman, No Cry — Bob Marley
- With or Without You — U2
Frequently asked questions
- What chords are in the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major?
- In C major the I–V–vi–IV progression is C – G – Am – F. The same numerals give G – D – Em – C in G major; the table above lists all twelve keys.
- What is the I–V–vi–IV progression called?
- I–V–vi–IV is known as the Axis progression, and also as the the four-chord song and 1–5–6–4. The I–V–vi–IV progression is the most-used four-chord loop in pop: it leaves home, lifts to the dominant, dips into the relative minor for a shade of melancholy and comes back through the subdominant, so it feels both hopeful and endlessly repeatable.
- How long is the I–V–vi–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–V–vi–IV progression?
- "Let It Be" by The Beatles, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley and "With or Without You" by U2 are built on it, at least in the section each is known for.