Four Chords, from IV

IV–I–V–vi · Rotation of I–V–vi–IV · C major · IV–I–V–vi

Play this pattern

Four Chords, from IV is a chord pattern you can play in any key. The degrees are IV–I–V–vi.

Starting one step early gives the chorus a lift-off feeling. Suits mid-tempo pop.

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

IV – I – V – vi

F · C · G · Am

Chord chart

Chord chart
1FCGAm

How to sing it

The second chord is home, so lifting the melody into it from the chord before makes the chorus float. Carry the four bars in one breath at 100–120 BPM.

In every key

In every key
KeysChord chart
C major · Written in this keyF · C · G · Am
Db majorGb · Db · Ab · Bbm
D majorG · D · A · Bm
Eb majorAb · Eb · Bb · Cm
E majorA · E · B · C#m
F majorBb · F · C · Dm
F# majorB · F# · C# · D#m
G majorC · G · D · Em
Ab majorDb · Ab · Eb · Fm
A majorD · A · E · F#m
Bb majorEb · Bb · F · Gm
B majorE · B · F# · G#m

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

Public-domain songs with this pattern