Chord Progression – I-V-vi-IV

Here’s a cool video that demonstrates how a simple chord progression can be used to write hundreds or thousands of different songs.

This progression is a simple I-V-vi-IV in a major key. For example, if it was the Key of C, the chords would be C, G, Am and F.

Or, in the key of E (like the video) the chords are E, B, C#m, A

Halfway through the video the chords are re-arranged to be vi-IV-I-V. Or C#m, A, E, B. But note how they still follow the same order.

This is why you should think of chords as families, or groups, and how they are used together in ‘common’ chord progressions. (When listening to a song, listen to the ‘group’ of chords rather than each chord individually. Learn to recognize the progression when you hear it.)

To learn more about the concept of chords as a family, join Fretboard Domination.

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