Rock Three Chords

I–V–IV · C major · I–V–IV

Rock Three Chords is a chord pattern you can play in any key. The degrees are I–V–IV.

It never ties itself off, so it keeps rolling, which is why repeating rock riffs love it. Play it hard.

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 – IV

C · G · F

Chord chart
1	C	G	F

Nothing resolves, so keep the phrases joined rather than stopping. One bar per chord at 100–120 BPM, and start the next line on the third chord.

Sweet Home Alabama · Lynyrd Skynyrd. Same three chords, but the original goes D–C–G, entering on the second chord of this pattern. Analyses split on whether it is in G major or D mixolydian, so the home note can feel different.
Werewolves of London · Warren Zevon. The same D–C–G loop as the song above, and the two are always compared. It also starts on the second chord of this pattern, not the first.

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