Pop · Beginner · major key

I–iii–IV–V climb

I – iii – IV – V — A step-by-step climb that builds excitement into the V chord.

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 – iii – IV – V — in C major that is C – Em – F – G. 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 gentle minor chord that shares two notes with I.
• IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
• V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.

I–iii–IV–V climb 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

• I–V–vi–iii–IV I – V – vi – iii – IV
• Extended Canon turnaround I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V
• Scale climb I–iii–IV–V–vi I – iii – IV – V – vi
• The pop "axis" progression I – V – vi – IV
• Axis progression (starting on V) V – vi – IV – I
• 50s / doo-wop progression I – vi – IV – V

← Two-chord I–vi · I–ii–IV–V →

← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one

Questions