Chord Progressions

What is a chord progression?

A chord progression is a sequence of chords played one after another. Progressions give music its sense of movement — a feeling of leaving home, building tension, and coming back to rest. Most songs you know are built from just a handful of chords repeating in a pattern.

The I, IV, and V chords

We number the chords built on each note of the scale with Roman numerals. In the key of C major, the I chord is C major (built on the 1st note, C), the IV chord is F major (built on the 4th note, F), and the V chord is G major (built on the 5th note, G). These three — I, IV, and V — are the most important chords in a key and can harmonize almost any melody in it.

Tension and resolution

The I chord (C) feels like home. The V chord (G) creates tension that pulls strongly back toward home. The IV chord (F) is a gentle step away. Playing I–IV–V–I takes you away from home and brings you back — the backbone of countless pop, rock, blues, and folk songs.