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Chord

Progression #1

Musical

Example

Chord

Progression #1

All Keys

Chord

Progression #1

Abbreviated

Score/Music

Chord Progression #1

One of the most common chord progressions in the music world is the simple I-IV-V progression. This chord progression shows up in musical styles ranging from bluegrass, pop and soul to classical, rock and folk.

In the Key of C, the I-IV-V chords are C Major, F Major and G Major:

Pop song composers frequently use this progression. You might recognize the I-IV-V as the chord progression from the Beatles song "Twist and Shout" or the classic song "La Bamba."

We will reposition the notes of the chords so that they are easier to play on the piano. Let's listen to what that this I-IV-V progression sounds like:

This progression is often repeated many times before moving on to other chords.

Let's listen to this progression in a pop setting:

While the I-IV-V creates a pleasing pop sound, it works just as well in classical music. Let's listen to what this chord progression sounds like in a classical setting:

As you can see in this abbreviated orchestral score, the strings play the chords while the bass provides the root note of each chord. The bass occasionally plays a non-root note (bars 2 and 4 - beat 2) just to keep the bass line moving while the oboe plays a simple melody over the chord progression.

We've drawn most of the melody notes from the chord progression itself. The other melody notes are merely non-chord tones connecting these chord notes.

This same chord progression could have just as easily provided the background for either a slower or faster piece of music. Likewise, the melody could move at a much slower or faster pace. We also could orchestrate this musical passage quite differently. As with all the other chord progressions found throughout this chapter, your choices of styles and orchestration are limitless.