IV–V–iii–vi chord progression
Royal road progression — IV–V–iii–vi · also called the 4–5–3–6, the J-pop progression
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4.7 · 6 ratingsIV–V–iii–vi chord progression — how it works
The IV–V–iii–vi progression never lands on the tonic at all: it rises IV–V as if to resolve, then side-steps to the two minor chords instead, which keeps it floating and bittersweet — a staple of Japanese pop and anime themes.
It moves from the subdominant (IV) to the dominant (V) to the mediant (iii) to the submediant (vi) 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 F – G – Em – Am; in G major they are C – D – Bm – Em. 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.
IV–V–iii–vi 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 | F – G – Em – Am |
| D♭ major | G♭ – A♭ – Fm – B♭m |
| D major | G – A – F♯m – Bm |
| E♭ major | A♭ – B♭ – Gm – Cm |
| E major | A – B – G♯m – C♯m |
| F major | B♭ – C – Am – Dm |
| F♯ major | B – C♯ – A♯m – D♯m |
| G major | C – D – Bm – Em |
| A♭ major | D♭ – E♭ – Cm – Fm |
| A major | D – E – C♯m – F♯m |
| B♭ major | E♭ – F – Dm – Gm |
| B major | E – F♯ – D♯m – G♯m |
What musicians say
- 5★5
- 4★0
- 3★1
- 2★0
- 1★0
クラシック～ジャズまでキーをC（ハ長調・ハ短調）でいくつものパターンを見聞きしましたが、とても分かり易くて良かった。
Frequently asked questions
- What chords are in the IV–V–iii–vi progression in C major?
- In C major the IV–V–iii–vi progression is F – G – Em – Am. The same numerals give C – D – Bm – Em in G major; the table above lists all twelve keys.
- What is the IV–V–iii–vi progression called?
- IV–V–iii–vi is known as the Royal road progression, and also as the 4–5–3–6 and the J-pop progression. The IV–V–iii–vi progression never lands on the tonic at all: it rises IV–V as if to resolve, then side-steps to the two minor chords instead, which keeps it floating and bittersweet — a staple of Japanese pop and anime themes.
- How long is the IV–V–iii–vi 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.