Canon Progression

I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V · Pachelbel progression · C major · I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V

Canon Progression is a chord pattern you can play in any key. The degrees are I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V.

Eight classic chords over a bass that walks down like a staircase. Known everywhere from the Pachelbel Canon (1653–1706), and at its best at a slow tempo.

Patterns are common chord moves. They are not the chart of a recorded hit.

Patterns are named by theory. Play them in any key that fits your voice.

Each song page has a chord chart, fingerings, and the same song in every key.

The pattern

I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V

C · G · Am · Em · F · C · F · G

Chord chart

Chord chart
1	C	G	Am	Em
2	F	C	F	G

How to sing it

Eight chords make one lap, twice the length of most patterns. One line over the first four chords and an answering line over the last four is a whole verse. The bass keeps descending, so a melody that rises against it sits beautifully.

In every key

In every key
Keys	Chord chart
C major · Written in this key	C · G · Am · Em · F · C · F · G
Db major	Db · Ab · Bbm · Fm · Gb · Db · Gb · Ab
D major	D · A · Bm · F#m · G · D · G · A
Eb major	Eb · Bb · Cm · Gm · Ab · Eb · Ab · Bb
E major	E · B · C#m · G#m · A · E · A · B
F major	F · C · Dm · Am · Bb · F · Bb · C
F# major	F# · C# · D#m · A#m · B · F# · B · C#
G major	G · D · Em · Bm · C · G · C · D
Ab major	Ab · Eb · Fm · Cm · Db · Ab · Db · Eb
A major	A · E · F#m · C#m · D · A · D · E
Bb major	Bb · F · Gm · Dm · Eb · Bb · Eb · F
B major	B · F# · G#m · D#m · E · B · E · F#

Heard in

Canon in D · Johann Pachelbel. The original the pattern is named after. In D major, with variations stacking up over the same eight repeating chords.
Memories · Maroon 5. Moves it to B major and repeats these eight chords for the whole song. Analyses note that part of the hook melody is borrowed from the Canon too.
Neoege Nan, Naege Neon (You to Me, Me to You) · Jajeongeo Tan Punggyeong (Bicycle Riding Scenery). In G major (G–D–Em–Bm–C–G–Am–D), a variant whose seventh chord is ii rather than the IV of this pattern. The other seven slots are the same.
Never Ending Story · Boohwal (Revival). In a chart moved to G major, the first five chords G–D/F#–Em–Bm–C match this pattern and the rest goes A7/C#–D. The original key is D♭ major.

These songs use this pattern. This is not their chord chart: real recordings differ in key, rhythm and the chords they add.