Classical · Intermediate · major key
Major circle of fifths
I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I — Every chord of the key, each a fifth below the last — baroque and inevitable.
Easiest guitar key: C major
Chord shapes in C 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 – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I — in C major that is C – F – Bdim – Em – Am – Dm – G – 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.
- vii° — a tense diminished chord that leads strongly to I.
- iii — a gentle minor chord that shares two notes with I.
- vi — the relative minor — the "sad" chord of a major key.
- ii — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
Major circle of fifths in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | CFBdimEmAmDmGC | Looper |
| G major | GCF#dimBmEmAmDG | Looper |
| D major | DGC#dimF#mBmEmAD | Looper |
| A major | ADG#dimC#mF#mBmEA | Looper |
| E major | EAD#dimG#mC#mF#mBE | Looper |
| B major | BEA#dimD#mG#mC#mF#B | Looper |
| F# major | F#BFdimA#mD#mG#mC#F# | Looper |
| Db major | DbGbCdimFmBbmEbmAbDb | Looper |
| Ab major | AbDbGdimCmFmBbmEbAb | Looper |
| Eb major | EbAbDdimGmCmFmBbEb | Looper |
| Bb major | BbEbAdimDmGmCmFBb | Looper |
| F major | FBbEdimAmDmGmCF | Looper |
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 C 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 C major pentatonic or C 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
- Pachelbel's Canon progression I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V
- Royal Road full cadence IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi – ii7 – V7 – I – I
- Extended Canon turnaround I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V
- City pop loop IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – Imaj7
- Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
- Deceptive cadence (V–vi) I – IV – V – vi
← I–ii7–V7–I · Bossa ii9–V9–Imaj9–VI7 →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I progression?
In C major: C – F – Bdim – Em – Am – Dm – G – C. In C major / A minor: C – F – Bdim – Em – Am – Dm – G – C. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I on guitar?
C major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.