Country · Beginner · major key
Folk / country I–IV–I–V
I – IV – I – V — A friendly back-and-forth that sounds like campfire folk and early country.
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 — in C major that is C – F – C – 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.
- IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
Folk / country I–IV–I–V in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | CFCG | Looper |
| G major | GCGD | Looper |
| D major | DGDA | Looper |
| A major | ADAE | Looper |
| E major | EAEB | Looper |
| B major | BEBF# | Looper |
| F# major | F#BF#C# | Looper |
| Db major | DbGbDbAb | Looper |
| Ab major | AbDbAbEb | Looper |
| Eb major | EbAbEbBb | Looper |
| Bb major | BbEbBbF | Looper |
| F major | FBbFC | Looper |
Songs that use it
- Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison
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 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
- Country two-step (I–I–V–V–I–I–IV–V) I – I – V – V – I – I – IV – V
- Country turnaround (I–I7–IV–II7–V7–I) I – I7 – IV – II7 – V7 – I
- 50s / doo-wop progression I – vi – IV – V
- The pop "axis" progression I – V – vi – IV
- The "sad pop" progression vi – IV – I – V
- I–IV–vi–V I – IV – vi – V
← I–IV–V–IV rock loop · I–V–IV–I classic rock →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the I – IV – I – V progression?
In G major: G – C – G – D. In C major / A minor: C – F – C – G. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I – IV – I – V on guitar?
G major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.
What songs use the folk / country i–iv–i–v?
For example: Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison.