Pop · Intermediate · major key

Stepwise I–ii–iii–IV

I – ii – iii – IV — Every chord moves up one scale step — a smooth, rising feel.

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 – ii – iii – IV — in C major that is C – Dm – Em – F. 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.
• ii — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
• iii — a gentle minor chord that shares two notes with I.
• IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.

Stepwise I–ii–iii–IV in all 12 keys

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

• Extended Canon turnaround I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V
• Falling IV–iii–ii–I IV – iii – ii – I
• I–ii–IV–V I – ii – IV – V
• I–V–ii–IV I – V – ii – IV
• I–IV–ii–V I – IV – ii – V
• ii–IV–V–I ii – IV – V – I

← I–ii–IV–V · I–IV–vi–V →

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