For some time I’d been meaning to compile a list of songs that have employed the very catchy I-V-VIm-IV chord progression. The most common are:
C – G – Am – F > D – A – Bm – G > A – E – F#m – D > G – D – Em – C > and E – B – C#m – A
The Australian comedy group Axis of Awesome did a video on this chord progression that’s a hoot. They’ve only covered 30+ songs in this but the next time you listen to the radio, look out for the progression in play.
From the top of my head, other songs that have used this progression at one point or wholly: ‘Head Over Heels: Alanis Morissette’, ‘When I Go Around: Green Day’ ‘No Woman No Cry: Bob Marley’, ‘Since You’ve Been Gone: Rainbow’ etc etc.
How can you write your own hits with this progression? My advice: Play with different beats and let a clean melodic bass line guide you: for example – “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” or “With or Without You” etc etc.
The rest, you will find your own way. BTW, whatever the title of this post says, if you think knowing a certain chord progression(s) is half the battle won, you are smoking it pretty often.
[Hat tip: Nice Photography Magazine]
Similar post: How To Use Chord Association To Write Music.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s amazing that after all of those songs on the same chords, it hasn’t really become boring!
I also noticed that two of the songs were chilli peppers, which just goes to show that they know the power of a decent chord progression! You could write thousands more songs on these chords and still sound good.
Hey Rob, thanks for writing. It’s one of those sweet and, dare I say, safe progressions that have worked out for so many. I can bet you out of the next few hit songs there’ll be at least one with that progression.