Pop Canon

I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V · Pachelbel as pop · C major · I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V

Play this pattern

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

The canon sequence written as eight pop bars. It climbs, dips, and walks back without ever sounding like a classical piece.

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
1CGAmEm
2FCFG

How to sing it

Eight bars make one lap. Hold the first I, then ride the walk down and let the last V ask for another time round.

In every key

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

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