Super Simple Chords

Chord progression

The vi–IV–I–vi chord progression

Am – F – C – Am in C. 41 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:

AmviFIVCIAmvi

In every key

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

KeyviIVIvi
CAmFCAm
DbBbmGbDbBbm
DBmGDBm
EbCmAbEbCm
EC#mAEC#m
FDmBbFDm
F#D#mBF#D#m
GEmCGEm
AbFmDbAbFm
AF#mDAF#m
BbGmEbBbGm
BG#mEBG#m

Songs that go round it

41 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 vi–IV–I–vi

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

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

41 songs in the library repeat it, including Stay With Me, The A Team, Wake Me Up, Give Me Love and The Song That Goes Like This (from Monty Python's Spamalot).

How do I play vi–IV–I–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.