Gospel · Intermediate · major key
Gospel I–IV–I–V–vi–IV–I
I – IV – I – V – vi – IV – I – I — Warm and churchy — a call-and-response feel built around IV and I.
Chord shapes in G 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 – IV – I – V – vi – IV – I – I — in C major that is C – F – C – G – Am – F – C – C. 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.
- IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
- vi — the relative minor — the "sad" chord of a major key.
Gospel I–IV–I–V–vi–IV–I in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | CFCGAmFCC | Looper |
| G major | GCGDEmCGG | Looper |
| D major | DGDABmGDD | Looper |
| A major | ADAEF#mDAA | Looper |
| E major | EAEBC#mAEE | Looper |
| B major | BEBF#G#mEBB | Looper |
| F# major | F#BF#C#D#mBF#F# | Looper |
| Db major | DbGbDbAbBbmGbDbDb | Looper |
| Ab major | AbDbAbEbFmDbAbAb | Looper |
| Eb major | EbAbEbBbCmAbEbEb | Looper |
| Bb major | BbEbBbFGmEbBbBb | Looper |
| F major | FBbFCDmBbFF | Looper |
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 G 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 G major pentatonic or G 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
- Gospel walk-up I – ii – iii – IV – V
- Gospel sus resolution I – IV – V7sus4 – V7
- Pachelbel's Canon progression I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V
- Royal Road full cadence IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi – ii7 – V7 – I – I
- Scale climb I–iii–IV–V–vi I – iii – IV – V – vi
- I–V–vi–iii–IV I – V – vi – iii – IV
← Reggae I–IV skank · Perfect cadence (V–I) →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the I – IV – I – V – vi – IV – I – I progression?
In G major: G – C – G – D – Em – C – G – G. In C major / A minor: C – F – C – G – Am – F – C – C. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I – IV – I – V – vi – IV – I – I on guitar?
G major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.