Punk · Beginner · major key

Punk I–V–vi–IV (power chords)

I5 – V5 – vi5 – IV5 — The pop axis played fast with power chords.

Chord shapes in A 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 I5 – V5 – vi5 – IV5 — in C major that is C5 – G5 – A5 – F5. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.

• I5 — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
• V5 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
• vi5 — the relative minor — the "sad" chord of a major key.
• IV5 — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.

Punk I–V–vi–IV (power chords) 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 A 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 A major pentatonic or A 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–IV–vi–V I – IV – vi – V
• Axis progression (starting on IV) IV – I – V – vi
• The "sad pop" progression vi – IV – I – V
• 50s / doo-wop progression I – vi – IV – V
• The pop "axis" progression I – V – vi – IV
• Axis progression (starting on V) V – vi – IV – I

← Power-chord I–IV–♭III–♭VI · Reggae I–IV skank →

← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one

Questions