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IV–V–iii–vi chord progression

Royal road progression — IV–V–iii–vi · also called the 4–5–3–6, the J-pop progression

  • Royal road progression

    IV – V – iii – vi

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

    in C major · 4 beats per chord

  • 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 →

  • 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)

    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 →

Samples: Salamander Grand Piano (CC-BY 3.0)

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IV–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.

KeyChords
C majorF – G – Em – Am
D♭ majorG♭ – A♭ – Fm – B♭m
D majorG – A – F♯m – Bm
E♭ majorA♭ – B♭ – Gm – Cm
E majorA – B – G♯m – C♯m
F majorB♭ – C – Am – Dm
F♯ majorB – C♯ – A♯m – D♯m
G majorC – D – Bm – Em
A♭ majorD♭ – E♭ – Cm – Fm
A majorD – E – C♯m – F♯m
B♭ majorE♭ – F – Dm – Gm
B majorE – F♯ – D♯m – G♯m

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.