Super Simple Chords

Chord progression

The vi–iii–IV–I chord progression

Am – Em – F – C in C. 18 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:

AmviEmiiiFIVCI

In every key

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

KeyviiiiIVI
CAmEmFC
DbBbmFmGbDb
DBmF#mGD
EbCmGmAbEb
EC#mG#mAE
FDmAmBbF
F#D#mA#mBF#
GEmBmCG
AbFmCmDbAb
AF#mC#mDA
BbGmDmEbBb
BG#mD#mEB

Songs that go round it

18 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.

The same loop, starting elsewhere

The same chords in the same order, begun on another chord: songs often move between them.

CIAmviEmiiiFIV

Angels From Heaven · Christmases When You Were Mine · Give Me Just A Little More Time

Questions about vi–iii–IV–I

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

A loop of 4 chords: Am – Em – F – C 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 vi–iii–IV–I progression?

18 songs in the library repeat it, including Rather Be, When Your Feet Don’t Touch The Ground, Beautiful, All Is Well and Beautiful Me.

How do I play vi–iii–IV–I on piano?

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