PROGRESSION · I–IV–V
The Three-Chord Progression
Tonic, subdominant, dominant. The three chords that between them contain every note of the major scale. Also called the three chord trick, or the primary triads.
In C major
C – F – G — direct, driving, unambiguous, around 120 BPM.
Why it works
These are the primary triads, and they are primary for a reason: I, IV and V cover all seven scale degrees with no note left out and no note doubled up in function. That completeness is why the key never sounds in doubt for a moment. V contains the leading tone, which is the single strongest pull in tonal music, and IV sits a fifth below the tonic as its mirror image.
Where you'll hear it
Rock, folk, country, punk, and every song ever written around a campfire. If a melody is strong and the arrangement is busy, three chords is often more than enough.
I–IV–V in every key
The same progression transposed. The roman numerals never change — that is the whole point of writing progressions this way.
| Key | I | IV | V |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | F | G |
| Db | Db | Gb | Ab |
| D | D | G | A |
| Eb | Eb | Ab | Bb |
| E | E | A | B |
| F | F | Bb | C |
| F# | F# | B | C# |
| G | G | C | D |
| Ab | Ab | Db | Eb |
| A | A | D | E |
| Bb | Bb | Eb | F |
| B | B | E | F# |
Related progressions
Drill the chords behind I–IV–V
Build every chord in this progression from its symbol, against the clock.
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