Major
progressions
with diatonic
minor chords
By just knowing three chords, the I, IV and V7, you can play thousands of songs. Even songs
with a more complex harmonic structure might be reduced to a three-chord progression with
a result that is acceptable, given that they given that they are based on a major scale and
have no modulations. These three chords are known as the Primary chords. For some more
explanation, go to my Primary Chord lesson in my Theory series
You have already met the three-chord structure in the 12-bar blues, and the 12 bar blues is
one of the progressions based on these three chords. In case you should have forgotten, the
chords in the most popular guitar keys are:
C: C-F-G7
G: G-C-D7
D: D-G-A7
A: A-D-E7
E: E-A-B7
F: F-Bb-C7
Some typical three-chord song structures are:
I have chosen Amazing Grace partly because it is a well known tune, but also because you
can find this very interesting article on the relation between Amazing Grace and pop songs
Ger Tillekens: The amazing grace of "Never Ever" in Soundscapes on-line journal on
media culture.
There are hundreds of songs more or less based on this progression. Try some countryish
ballads, for instance Act Naturally as recorded by The Beatles. It is in G. The verse follows
more or less this structure. At the end of the bridge, there is an A7-chord, which is a V of V
chord in this context.
Eb
Bb
4x2
Eb
Bb
I-IV-V-IV
There are many songs following this pattern. A few examples are Get Off Of My Cloud, La
Bamba and Great Balls of Fire
Backing Track
I-IV-V-IV progression - 120
C D
Eb
E F G A
Bb
I-V-IV-V
One example is The Beatles' Baby's In Black
Backing Track
I-V-IV-V progression - 120
C
Eb
Bb