Alternative · Intermediate · major key

I–III–IV–iv (major/minor shift)

I – III – IV – iv — Two borrowed chords: the III is surprising, and the IV turning minor feels heartbreaking.

Chord shapes in A major (standard tuning)

Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.

How the chords work

Written in Roman numerals, this progression is I – III – IV – iv — in C major that is C – E – F – Fm. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.

• I — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
• III — a major chord where you expect minor: points strongly to vi.
• IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
• iv — the minor four chord: darker and more emotional.

I–III–IV–iv (major/minor shift) in all 12 keys

Songs that use it

• Creep — Radiohead

Song examples use this progression (or a very close variant) in at least one main section; keys and voicings differ.

Practice ideas

• Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
• Change keys with a capo: keep the A major shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
• Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the A major pentatonic or A major scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
• Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.

Similar progressions

• Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
• I–III7–vi–IV I – III7 – vi – IV
• I–iii–IV–iv I – iii – IV – iv
• I–I7–IV–iv I – I7 – IV – iv
• I–III7–IV–V I – III7 – IV – V
• Minor plagal (I–IV–iv–I) I – IV – iv – I

← Aeolian cadence (♭VI–♭VII–I) · Minor plagal (I–IV–iv–I) →

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