6.10 · The vi, ii, and iii Chords

Follow the song, with vi, ii, and iii

Hear a loop and trace its path, now with vi, ii, and iii in it. Listen for each stand-in by the chord it covers for: vi is home, minor, ii is away and sets up V, iii is home's sound with no pull.

Every loop in this unit

Twelve loops, grouped by the chord each section added. The follow games below draw from exactly these.

vi · minor home
C
F
G
Am

I–IV–V–vi. vi takes I's place at the landing.

C
G
Am
F

I–V–vi–IV. The most common progression in pop.

Am
F
C
G

vi–IV–I–V. The pop loop started on vi.

C
Am
F
G

I–vi–IV–V. The pop loop's four chords with vi second.

ii · sets up V
C
Dm
G
C

I–ii–V–I. ii takes IV's place before V.

C
F
Dm
G
C

I–IV–ii–V–I. IV, then ii, then V. One note changes between them.

Dm
G
C
Am

ii–V–I–vi. The fall to V, then I, then the minor home.

C
Dm
Am
F

I–ii–vi–IV. ii goes to vi instead. Away, no pull.

iii · in between
C
Em
F
G

I–iii–IV–V. iii takes the second I, then rises into IV by half steps.

C
Em
Am
F

I–iii–vi–IV. The pop loop with iii for V. In C, E falls a fifth to A.

C
Em
Am
G

I–iii–vi–V. Home, the stand-in, the minor home, then the pull.

F
C
Em
Am

IV–I–iii–vi. Can't Help Falling in Love, from IV: I, iii, vi.

Game · Follow the song: loops with vi

1 / 3

Listen, then tap the chords in the order you heard them.

Listen first. Then answer.
1
2
3
4

Game · Follow the song: loops with ii

1 / 3

Listen, then tap the chords in the order you heard them.

Listen first. Then answer.
1
2
3
4

Game · Follow the song: loops with iii

1 / 3

Listen, then tap the chords in the order you heard them.

Listen first. Then answer.
1
2
3
4

Game · Follow the song: all six chords

1 / 3

Listen, then tap the chords in the order you heard them.

Listen first. Then answer.
1
2
3
4

Quiz

1 / 3

Which loop has ii setting up V?