The Most Common Chord Progressions in Popular Music

Ever notice how different songs can feel eerily similar? That's because most popular music relies on a handful of proven chord progressions. Understanding these patterns is the fastest way to learn new songs, write your own music, and develop your ear as a musician.

How Chord Progressions Work

Chords are built from scales. In any major key, there are seven chords numbered with Roman numerals. For example, in the key of C major:

Number	Chord	Quality
I	C	Major
ii	Dm	Minor
iii	Em	Minor
IV	F	Major
V	G	Major
vi	Am	Minor
vii°	Bdim	Diminished

When musicians talk about "the I-V-vi-IV progression," they mean the first, fifth, sixth, and fourth chords of whatever key you're in. This system lets us discuss progressions independent of any specific key.

The 6 Most Common Progressions

1. I - V - vi - IV (The "Pop Progression")

This is arguably the most used progression in modern music. In C major: C - G - Am - F

Songs that use it:

• "Let It Be" — The Beatles
• "No Woman No Cry" — Bob Marley
• "Someone Like You" — Adele
• "Don't Stop Believin'" — Journey
• "Poker Face" — Lady Gaga
• "With or Without You" — U2

Why it works: The progression creates a satisfying emotional arc. Starting on the home chord (I) feels stable, the V creates tension, the vi adds a touch of melancholy, and the IV resolves back toward home.

2. I - IV - V - I (The "Classic" Progression)

The foundation of rock, blues, country, and folk. In G major: G - C - D - G

Songs that use it:

• "Twist and Shout" — The Beatles
• "Wild Thing" — The Troggs
• "Louie Louie" — The Kingsmen
• "La Bamba" — Ritchie Valens
• "Stir It Up" — Bob Marley

Why it works: This is the most fundamental harmonic movement in Western music. The V chord creates maximum tension that resolves perfectly back to the I.

3. vi - IV - I - V (The "Sensitive" Progression)

Starting on the minor vi chord gives this the same chords as the pop progression but with a completely different emotional feel. In A minor (relative to C): Am - F - C - G

Songs that use it:

• "Zombie" — The Cranberries
• "Numb" — Linkin Park
• "Africa" — Toto
• "Complicated" — Avril Lavigne
• "Save Tonight" — Eagle-Eye Cherry

Why it works: Starting on a minor chord immediately creates tension and emotional weight, making the resolution to the I chord feel like an arrival.

4. I - vi - IV - V (The "Doo-Wop" Progression)

This classic 1950s progression still appears in modern music. In C: C - Am - F - G

Songs that use it:

• "Stand by Me" — Ben E. King
• "Every Breath You Take" — The Police
• "Baby" — Justin Bieber
• "Unchained Melody" — The Righteous Brothers
• "All I Have to Do Is Dream" — The Everly Brothers

Why it works: The smooth descent from I to vi creates a gentle, swooning quality that's perfect for love songs.

5. The 12-Bar Blues (I - I - I - I - IV - IV - I - I - V - IV - I - V)

The backbone of blues, early rock and roll, and R&B. In A: A - A - A - A - D - D - A - A - E - D - A - E

Songs that use it:

• "Johnny B. Goode" — Chuck Berry
• "Hound Dog" — Elvis Presley
• "Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley
• "Red House" — Jimi Hendrix
• "Pride and Joy" — Stevie Ray Vaughan

Why it works: The 12-bar structure creates a call-and-response pattern that musicians can improvise over endlessly.

6. i - VII - VI - VII (The Minor Rock Progression)

Common in rock, metal, and minor-key pop. In Am: Am - G - F - G

Songs that use it:

• "Stairway to Heaven" (verse) — Led Zeppelin
• "All Along the Watchtower" — Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix
• "Hit the Road Jack" — Ray Charles
• "Rolling in the Deep" — Adele

Why it works: The movement between minor and major chords creates a powerful, driving energy.

How to Identify Progressions by Ear

Training your ear to recognize these patterns is one of the most valuable skills a musician can develop:

1. Listen for the bass notes — The root note of each chord is usually the lowest note you hear
2. Identify major vs minor — Major sounds "happy," minor sounds "sad" or "tense"
3. Feel the resolution — The V chord creates tension that resolves to the I chord
4. Use FindTheChords.com — Upload any song to verify your ear training by checking against the detected chords

Analyze Any Song's Chord Progression

Want to see the chord progression of a specific song? FindTheChords.com analyzes any audio file and shows you the complete chord progression with timestamps, key, and BPM. Upload your favorite songs to see which of these common progressions they use, or discover unique progressions you've never heard before. It's completely free with no signup required.