5.3 · Progressions

The three primary chords

I, IV, and V are the primary chords: between them they hold every note of the major scale. A whole song can run on these three, because whatever note the melody lands on, one of them has it.

Three chords, seven notes

Each chord takes three notes of the scale. Between the three chords, all seven notes are covered, so whatever note a melody lands on, one of them has it.

Home note · sets the key
C E G
F A C
G B D

C major is C D E F G A B. Every one of those notes sits in I, IV, or V, and C and G sit in two of them.

The three-chord loop

Leave home through IV, lean back through V, land on I. Then the same three chords with V first.

C
F
G
C

Twist and Shout, La Bamba, Wild Thing: three chords, the whole song.

C
G
F
C

V before IV: the hard pull comes first, then IV eases the way home.

Game · IV or V?

1 / 5

Home, then one of the other two chords. Which one?

Listen first. Then answer.

Quiz

1 / 3

Between them, I, IV, and V hold…

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson. A perfect run sticks: a later miss never undoes it.The pop loop →