Super Simple Chords

The hopeful mood

The IV–V–iii–vi chord progression

F – G – Em – Am in C. 23 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:

FIVGVEmiiiAmvi

In every key

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

KeyIVViiivi
CFGEmAm
DbGbAbFmBbm
DGAF#mBm
EbAbBbGmCm
EABG#mC#m
FBbCAmDm
F#BC#A#mD#m
GCDBmEm
AbDbEbCmFm
ADEC#mF#m
BbEbFDmGm
BEF#D#mG#m

Songs that go round it

23 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.

In the Playground this is the Hopeful mood. Try it with the style.

Questions about IV–V–iii–vi

What is the IV–V–iii–vi chord progression?

A loop of 4 chords: F – G – Em – Am 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 IV–V–iii–vi progression?

23 songs in the library repeat it, including Titanium, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, Dancing Through Life and How Am I Supposed To Live Without You.

How do I play IV–V–iii–vi on piano?

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