Practice

I–V–vi–IV (the ‘Axis’)

Pop's most-borrowed progression, cycling from the bright tonic through the dominant into the relative minor before landing on the subdominant. It powers everything from arena ballads to open-mic singalongs.

Roman numerals: I–V–vi–IV — heard in Let It Be, With or Without You, and Don’t Stop Believin’.

The I–V–vi–IV (the ‘Axis’) progression

Pop's most-borrowed progression, cycling from the bright tonic through the dominant into the relative minor before landing on the subdominant. It powers everything from arena ballads to open-mic singalongs.

Roman-numeral formula: I–V–vi–IV.

Example in the key of C

Played in the key of C, I–V–vi–IV becomes:

  1. C — the I chord
  2. G — the V chord
  3. Am — the vi chord
  4. F — the IV chord

Tap any chord above for fingerings and voicings, or build this progression yourself in the progression builder.

Famous songs that use it

  • Let It Be
  • With or Without You
  • Don’t Stop Believin’