IIVviV

Contemporary Pop · intermediate

I-IV-vi-V

A contemporary pop variation. The IV before the vi gives it a slightly different emotional journey — more grounded than I-V-vi-IV.

contemporarygroundedemotionalmodern

Hear I-IV-vi-V in Any Key

How to Identify It

Moving to IV before vi creates a different sense of harmonic motion — the vi feels more like a contrast after the IV. Very common in 2000s and 2010s pop.

Famous Examples

  • Take Me to Church — Hozier
  • Radioactive — Imagine Dragons
  • Contemporary pop throughout the 2010s
Test your earThe recognition trainer plays random progressions — identify them with instant feedback.
Open Trainer →

I-IV-vi-V in All 12 Keys

CC – F – Am – GC#D♭Db – Gb – Bbm – AbDD – G – Bm – AD#E♭Eb – Ab – Cm – BbEE – A – C#m – BFF – Bb – Dm – CF#G♭F# – B – D#m – C#GG – C – Em – DG#A♭Ab – Db – Fm – EbAA – D – F#m – EA#B♭Bb – Eb – Gm – FBB – E – G#m – F#

Related Progressions

12-Bar BluesBlues / Rock / JazzThe defining form of the blues — a 12-bar cycle using I…I-IV-V-IClassical / Pop / RockThe most fundamental progression in Western music. Toni…I-V-vi-IVPop / RockThe most ubiquitous progression in modern pop music. Op…I-vi-IV-VPop / Doo-Wop / RockThe classic 50s progression. Warm, nostalgic, and endle…

About the I-IV-vi-V Progression

The I-IV-vi-V progression uses the chords I – IV – vi – V from the major scale. A contemporary pop variation. The IV before the vi gives it a slightly different emotional journey — more grounded than I-V-vi-IV.

To recognise the I-IV-vi-V by ear, focus on its characteristic mood — contemporary, grounded, emotional, modern. Practice hearing it in different keys using the player above. Each key gives the same harmonic movement but a different tonal colour, which is why being able to identify the progression regardless of key is the real skill.