5.3 · Simple Diatonic Chord Progressions

The longer way home

I–IV–V–I is the longer way home: away through IV, pull through V, land on I. These three are the primary chords, and between them they hold every note of the major scale.

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 longer way home

5.2's trip went out through V and straight back. This one stops at IV first, then V pulls it home. Then the same three chords with V first.

C
G
C

The short way: out through V, home.

C
F
G
C

The longer way: away through IV, then V, then home. Twist and Shout, La Bamba, Wild Thing.

C
G
F
C

V before IV: the strongest pull comes first, then IV steps back to I.

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…

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