Super Simple Chords

Chord progression

The I–I7–IV–iv chord progression

C – C7 – F – Fm in C. 38 songs in the library go round it. Hear it in any style and key, and see it in all twelve keys.

Tuning the piano…
Style
Key

Want to mix it with other hands?

The loop

4 chords, round and round, in C. Each chord on the keys:

CIC7I7FIVFmiv

In every key

Find your song's key on the left: its chords are the row. Each column keeps its colour, whatever the key.

KeyII7IViv
CCC7FFm
DbDbDb7GbGbm
DDD7GGm
EbEbEb7AbAbm
EEE7AAm
FFF7BbBbm
F#F#F#7BBm
GGG7CCm
AbAbAb7DbDbm
AAA7DDm
BbBbBb7EbEbm
BBB7EEm

Songs that go round it

38 songs, best known first. Rest the mouse on one to hear it.

All of them

Left hands these songs use

The patterns most often played under this loop.

Questions about I–I7–IV–iv

What is the I–I7–IV–iv chord progression?

A loop of 4 chords: C – C7 – F – Fm in C. The numerals say each chord's place in the key, so the same loop can be played in any key.

What songs use the I–I7–IV–iv progression?

38 songs in the library repeat it, including Desperado, If I Had You, Cinema Paradiso, Dear Prudence and Falling In Love Again.

How do I play I–I7–IV–iv on piano?

Hold each chord with the right hand while the left hand plays its root, then swap in a pattern: pop heartbeat is the left hand these songs use most. The player above plays it in any style and key.