The 4 Chords of Pop Music That Everyone Knows
Contents
What do the songs “I Will Survive,” “We Are the Champions,” “Yesterday,” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” have in common? Besides being incredibly catchy, they all use the same four chords!
Introduction
Do you know the 4 chords of pop music that everyone knows? If you’re a fan of popular music, chances are you do. These four chords have been used time and time again in countless songs, and they’re so catchy that they’ve become some of the most recognizable progressions in all of pop music.
So what are these four chords? They are: F, C, G, and D. And together, they can be used to create a whole range of different progressions.
One of the most popular ways to use these four chords is to create a I-IV-V-I progression. This progression starts on the tonic chord (in this case, F), then moves to the subdominant chord (C), then to the dominant chord (G), and finally back to the tonic chord (F). This progression is used in countless songs, and it’s particularly common in pop, rock, and country music.
Another popular way to use these four chords is to create a I-V-vi-IV progression. This progression starts on the tonic chord (F), then moves to the dominant chord (G), then to the minor vi chord (Dm), and finally back to the subdominant chord (C). This progression is also used in countless songs, and it’s particularly common in pop and rock music.
So there you have it! The four chords of pop music that everyone knows. Now go out there and start writing some hit songs of your own!
The I-V-vi-IV Progression
The I-V-vi-IV progression is a common chord progression in popular music. It consists of the chords I, V, vi, and IV.
The I chord is the tonic chord, the V chord is the dominant chord, the vi chord is the submediant chord, and the IV chord is the subdominant chord.
This progression has been used in many popular songs, such as “Sugar” by Maroon 5, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness, “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz, and ” What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction.
The ii-V-I Progression
The ii-V-I chord progression is one of the most common in music, especially in Jazz. It’s used in countless songs, from early Jazz standards to modern pop hits. If you’re not familiar with it, the ii-V-I progression goes like this:
The ii chord is a minor chord, the V chord is a dominant 7th chord, and the I chord is a major chord. In the key of C, these chords would be D minor 7, G7, and C major.
This progression can be found in countless songs, including “My Funny Valentine”, “Take the ‘A’ Train”, “All of Me”, “Summertime”, and “I Got Rhythm”.
There are endless variations on this progression, but the basic idea is always the same: start on the ii chord, move to the V chord, and then resolve to the I chord. The ii-V-I progression is an essential part of Jazz harmony, and it’s a great place to start if you’re learning how to improvise over chords.
The I-vi-ii-V Progression
The I-vi-ii-V progression is one of the most popular chord progressions in pop music. It’s characterized by its simplicity andcatchiness, and it can be found in countless songs across genres.
The progression consists of four chords: the tonic (I), the supertonic (ii), the submediant (vi), and the dominant (V). These chords are typically played in succession, creating a catchy and memorable melody.
The I-vi-ii-V progression can be found in countless songs, including “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles, “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves, “I Love It” by Kanye West, and “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor.
If you’re interested in learning more about this popular chord progression, check out our guide below. We’ll walk you through how to play the I-vi-ii-V progression on your instrument of choice, as well as some tips for creating your own catchy melodies.
The vi-IV-I-V Progression
If you’ve ever wondered why so many popular songs sound alike, it’s because they’re all built on the same four-chord progression. The chords are usually played in the key of vi-IV-I-V, which is why this progression is sometimes referred to as the “vi-IV-I-V progression.”
This progression is so common in pop music because it’s simple and catchy, and it can be used in a variety of different ways. For example, the chords can be played in a major key for a happy sound, or in a minor key for a sadder sound.
The four chords in the vi-IV-I-V progression are:
vi: A minor (or E minor)
IV: D major (or A major)
I: G major (or E major)
V: C major (or A minor)
As you can see, this progression contains a mix of both major and minor chords, which is what gives it its versatility. You can use this progression to play almost any type of pop song, from happy and upbeat to slow and melancholic.
Conclusion
These four chords are the building blocks of almost every popular song out there. Now that you know them, try using them to create your own musical masterpieces!
