PROGRESSION · vi–IV–I–V
The Minor-Start Axis
The same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, rotated to start on the relative minor. Identical harmony, completely different emotional arc. Also called the sensitive female chord progression.
In C major
Am – F – C – G — wistful opening, bright landing, around 96 BPM.
Why it works
Rotation changes which chord the ear treats as home. Starting on vi makes the loop sound like it is in the relative minor for the first two bars, then I arrives and retroactively reframes everything as major. That late reveal is the whole trick — you get a minor opening and a major payoff out of one set of chords.
Where you'll hear it
Reach for it when a verse should feel unresolved and the chorus should feel like sunrise. Many songs use vi–IV–I–V for the verse and rotate to I–V–vi–IV for the chorus without changing a single chord.
vi–IV–I–V in every key
The same progression transposed. The roman numerals never change — that is the whole point of writing progressions this way.
| Key | vi | IV | I | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Am | F | C | G |
| Db | Bbm | Gb | Db | Ab |
| D | Bm | G | D | A |
| Eb | Cm | Ab | Eb | Bb |
| E | C#m | A | E | B |
| F | Dm | Bb | F | C |
| F# | D#m | B | F# | C# |
| G | Em | C | G | D |
| Ab | Fm | Db | Ab | Eb |
| A | F#m | D | A | E |
| Bb | Gm | Eb | Bb | F |
| B | G#m | E | B | F# |
Related progressions
Drill the chords behind vi–IV–I–V
Build every chord in this progression from its symbol, against the clock.
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