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Chord progressions · The pop axis

I–V–vi–IV chord progression in every key

The pop axis is I–V–vi–IV. In C major that is C, G, Am and F.

Play it

Hear it in any key

Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

I is home, V pulls back home, vi stands in for home and IV moves away. Pick a key and press play; the stay the same while the chords move.

Why I–V–vi–IV works: the full guide.

  • The pop axis in C major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. C
    2. G
    3. Am
    4. F

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Practise the changes in time Play it with a capo

Every key

The pop axis in all 12 major keys

Each row is the same progression. Tap a chord to learn its shapes, or a key to hear all of its chords.

The pop axis in every major key
KeyChords
C major
G major
D major
A major
E major
B major
F♯ major
D♭ major
A♭ major
E♭ major
B♭ major
F major

Questions

The pop axis, in short

What is the pop axis?
The pop axis is I–V–vi–IV. In C major that is C, G, Am and F. Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.
What are the chords of the pop axis in C major?
C, G, Am and F. I is home, V pulls back home, vi stands in for home and IV moves away.
What songs use the pop axis?
You can hear it in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry and With or Without You, among many others.

More progressions

All chord progressions