Lo-fi · Intermediate · major key

Lo-fi loop (IVmaj7–iii7–ii7–Imaj7)

IVmaj7 – iii7 – ii7 – Imaj7 — Gentle, descending 7th chords — the relaxed sound of lo-fi study beats.

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 IVmaj7 – iii7 – ii7 – Imaj7 — in C major that is Fmaj7 – Em7 – Dm7 – Cmaj7. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.

• IVmaj7 — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
• iii7 — a gentle minor chord that shares two notes with I.
• ii7 — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
• Imaj7 — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.

Lo-fi loop (IVmaj7–iii7–ii7–Imaj7) 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

• Major circle of fifths I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I
• Extended Canon turnaround I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V
• Royal Road full cadence IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi – ii7 – V7 – I – I
• Gospel walk-up I – ii – iii – IV – V
• Stepwise I–ii–iii–IV I – ii – iii – IV
• Falling IV–iii–ii–I IV – iii – ii – I

← Neo-soul ii9–V9–Imaj9 · Mixolydian rock (I–♭VII–IV–I) →

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