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IVviIV Progression

The document discusses the I–V–vi–IV chord progression, which is common in many genres of music. It involves the I, V, vi, and IV chords in a given key, such as C major. Variations include starting on different chords but keeping the same order, such as vi-IV-I-V. The progression is found widely in popular music from the 1950s onward and has been parodied for its ubiquity. Numerous examples of songs using the progression or its variations are provided.

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100 views

IVviIV Progression

The document discusses the I–V–vi–IV chord progression, which is common in many genres of music. It involves the I, V, vi, and IV chords in a given key, such as C major. Variations include starting on different chords but keeping the same order, such as vi-IV-I-V. The progression is found widely in popular music from the 1950s onward and has been parodied for its ubiquity. Numerous examples of songs using the progression or its variations are provided.

Uploaded by

gern
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IVviIV progression

en.wikipedia.org /wiki/I%E2%80%93V%E2%80%93vi%E2%80%93IV_progression
The IVviIV progression is a common chord progression popular across several genres of music. It involves the

I, V, vi, and IV chords; for example, in the key of C major, this would be: CGAmF. [1] Uses based on a dierent
starting point but with the same order of chords, include:
I-V-vi-IV (known as Optimistic)
V-vi-IV-I
vi-IV-I-V (known as Pessimistic)
IV-I-V-vi
The 50s progression uses the same chords but in a dierent order (IviIVV), no matter the starting point.

Contents
Variations
A common ordering of the progression, "viIVIV", was dubbed the sensitive female chord progression by Boston
Globe Columnist Marc Hirsh. [2] In C major this would be AmFCG. Hirsh rst noticed the chord progression in the
song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne,[3] and then other songs. He named the progression because he claimed it was
used by many performers of the Lilith Fair in the late 1990s. [2]
Dan Bennett claims the progression is also called the "pop-punk progression" because of its frequent use in pop
punk.[1]
The viIVIV progression has been associated with the heroic in many popular Hollywood movies and movie
trailers, especially in lms released since 2000.[4]
The chord progression is also used in the form IVIVvi, as in songs such as " Umbrella" by Rihanna[5] and

"Down" by Jay Sean.[6] Numerous bro-country songs followed the chord progression, as demonstrated by Greg
Todd's mash-up of several bro-country songs in an early 2015 video.[7]
A 2009 song by the comedy group The Axis of Awesome, called "Four Chords", parodied the ubiquity of the
progression in popular music. It was written in D major (thus using the chords D major, A major, B minor, and G
major) and was subsequently published on YouTube.[8] As of August 2016, the most popular version has been
viewed over 40 million times.[9]

Examples
Main article: List of songs containing the IVviIV progression
Examples of use of the IVviIV progression include:
Songs using the viIVIV progression:

See also
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Roman numeral analysis


"The Complexity of Songs"

References
1. ^ a b c d e f g h Bennett, Dan (2008). The Total Rock Bassist, p. 63. ISBN 978-0739052693
2. ^ a b c Hirsh, Marc. "Striking a Chord", The Boston Globe, December 31, 2008.
3. ^ Rundown 3/4: "Sensitive Female Chord Progression", Here and Now, March 4, 2009, wbur.org.
4. ^ Murphy, Scott (2014). 'A Pop-Music Progression in Recent Popular Movies and Movie Trailers', Music,
Sound, and the Moving Image 8.2 (Autumn): 141-162.
5. ^ "Unsupported Browser or Operating System". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-20. (subscription
required) Gbmaj7, Db(add2)/Ab, Fm7, Bbm9.
6. ^ "Down", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
7. ^ Brian Manseld. "Six songs, same tune? Mashup shows country music's similarities". USA Today.
8. ^ a b Lynskey, Dorian (2010-12-17). "Don't Stop Believin': the power ballad that refused to die" . The Guardian.
p. 3 (Film & music). Retrieved 2011-02-19.
9. ^ "4 Chords". YouTube. 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
10. ^ "Someone Like You", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
11. ^ "Head Over Feet", MusicNotes.com. Chords marked. (subscription required)
12. ^ Miers, Je (4 May 2007). "Pop power; All-American Rejects wildly accepted in gig in Bu State arena". The
Bualo News. p. G26. Factiva BFNW000020070505e35400007.
13. ^ [1] Let It Go], hooktheory.com
14. ^ "Don't You Wanna Stay", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
15. ^ "Happy Ending", MusicNotes.com. Chords marked. (subscription required)
16. ^ "Perfect", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
17. ^ Anselmo Ralph. "No Me Toca chords - Anselmo Ralph". ultimate-tabs.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
18. ^ Beyonc. "Beyonc "If I Were a Boy" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 201309-18.
19. ^ Bon Jovi. "Bon Jovi "It's My Life" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-0918.
20. ^ Mars, Bruno. "Bruno Mars "Grenade" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 201309-18.
21. ^ The Cranberries. "The Cranberries "Zombie" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved
2013-09-18.
22. ^ [2]
23. ^ "Save Tonight", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
24. ^ Eminem. "Eminem "Not Afraid" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
25. ^ Rihanna. "Eminem "Love the Way You Lie" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved
2013-09-18.

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26. ^ Enrique Iglesias. "Bailando chords by Enrique Iglesias". ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
27. ^ Flo Rida (2012-09-26). "Flo Rida "Whistle" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved
2013-09-18.
28. ^ Sebastian, Guy. "Guy Sebastian "Battle Scars" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com.
Retrieved 2013-09-18.
29. ^ Jessie J. "Jessie J "Nobody's Perfect" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 201309-18.
30. ^ Bieber, Justin. "Justin Bieber "Love Me" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved
2013-09-18.
31. ^ "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", MusicNotes.com. Chords marked. (subscription required)
32. ^ Lady Gaga. "Lady Gaga "Poker Face" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 201309-18.
33. ^ The Lonely Island. "The Lonely Island "I Just Had Sex" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com.
Retrieved 2013-09-18.
34. ^ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0092240
35. ^ "Just a Dream", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
36. ^ "Marilyn Monroe", MusicNotes.com. (subscription required)
37. ^ The Ospring. "The Ospring "The Kids Aren't Alright" Guitar Tab - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com.
Retrieved 2013-09-18.
38. ^ Toto. "Toto "Africa" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
39. ^ Train. "Train "Drive By" Sheet Music - Download & Print" . Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.

Further reading
External links
Axis of Awesome - 4 Four Chord Song (with song titles) on YouTube

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