Classical · Beginner · major key

I–IV–V7–I

I – IV – V7 – I — The textbook cadence with a dominant seventh for extra pull.

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 – V7 – I — in C major that is C – F – G7 – 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.
• V7 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.

I–IV–V7–I 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

• Perfect cadence (V–I) IV – V – I – I
• Half cadence (ends on V) I – vi – IV – V
• Pachelbel's Canon progression I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V
• Major circle of fifths I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I
• Deceptive cadence (V–vi) I – IV – V – vi
• I–vi–I–vi–IV–V ballad I – vi – I – vi – IV – V – I – V

← Descending line cliché (I–Imaj7–I7–I6) · I–ii7–V7–I →

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