C
Major
A large number of popular songs are built around four repeating chords. The same harmonic pattern can appear in different keys, rhythms, and orders, so learning the progression as scale degrees makes it easier to transpose.
SECTION 1
Popular Four-Chord Song Progressions
| Song | Artist | Simplified progression |
|---|---|---|
| Let It Be | The Beatles | C - G - Am - F |
| No Woman, No Cry | Bob Marley | C - G - Am - F |
| With or Without You | U2 | D - A - Bm - G |
| Someone Like You | Adele | A - E - F#m - D |
| I'm Yours | Jason Mraz | B - F# - G#m - E |
SECTION 2
The I-V-vi-IV Progression
In C major, I-V-vi-IV becomes C-G-Am-F. Move the same scale-degree pattern to another key and the emotional direction remains recognizable even though every chord name changes.
Beginner
G
Major
Am
Minor
F
Major
SECTION 3
Practice the Loop, Then the Song
- Use one down-strum per chord first.
- Loop the progression without stopping.
- Add the recorded rhythm only after the changes are secure.
- Transpose to easier open chords when the original key requires difficult barre shapes.
SECTION 4
Turn One Progression Into a Complete Arrangement
Four chord names do not describe the whole song. Listen for how long each chord lasts, where the loop restarts, and whether the verse, pre-chorus, and chorus begin on different points in the same cycle. A repeated progression can feel new when the melody and rhythmic emphasis change.
Practice the harmony with whole-note strums first, then add an eighth-note pattern, muted accents, or arpeggios. Keeping the chord order stable while changing texture makes it easier to hear how arrangement creates contrast without adding more harmony.
USE THE TOOLS
Move from chord shapes to complete songs
Identify an unknown chord from its notes, browse the complete chart, or analyze the progression in a recording.