Open Turnaround Chord progressions Major & minor keys Get in touch Chord progressions Three-Chord Songs (1-4-5) I, IV and V, and nothing else
Three chords: the I, the IV and the V. They are the only major triads in a major key, so a song built from them never leaves it, and every note of the major scale is available over all three. This is the first progression most players learn and the last one they stop using.
The chords, in every key Every progression below moves together, so the comparison stays honest.
What actually differs These three use the same chords and differ only in order and emphasis. The plain I–IV–V states them once in rising order and is the shape of a thousand rock and skiffle tunes. The folk standard returns to the I between the other two — I–IV–I–V — so the tonic is re-established every other bar and the progression feels settled rather than travelling; that repeat is why it sits under verses rather than choruses. The country train ends on the IV instead — I–IV–V–IV — which leaves the loop unresolved at the turn and pulls it straight back to the top, and it is the reason that shape drives rather than rests. All three take the same scale throughout, which is exactly why the arrangement, not the harmony, has to carry the song.
All 3 in this family Three-Chord I – IV – V
Rock major 3 bars
The backbone of rock & roll, punk and folk. Three primary chords, endless songs.
Three-Chord in C major Bar Chord Numeral 1 C I 2 F IV 3 G V
What to play over it In C major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
C Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes C D E F G A B
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in C major · The key of C major
Three-Chord in Db major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Db I 2 Gb IV 3 Ab V
What to play over it In Db major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
Db Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Db major · The key of Db major
Three-Chord in D major Bar Chord Numeral 1 D I 2 G IV 3 A V
What to play over it In D major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
D Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes D E F♯ G A B C♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in D major · The key of D major
Three-Chord in Eb major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Eb I 2 Ab IV 3 Bb V
What to play over it In Eb major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
Eb Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Eb major · The key of Eb major
Three-Chord in E major Bar Chord Numeral 1 E I 2 A IV 3 B V
What to play over it In E major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
E Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in E major · The key of E major
Three-Chord in F major Bar Chord Numeral 1 F I 2 Bb IV 3 C V
What to play over it In F major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
F Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes F G A B♭ C D E
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in F major · The key of F major
Three-Chord in F# major Bar Chord Numeral 1 F# I 2 B IV 3 C# V
What to play over it In F# major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
F# Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in F# major · The key of F# major
Three-Chord in G major Bar Chord Numeral 1 G I 2 C IV 3 D V
What to play over it In G major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
G Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes G A B C D E F♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in G major · The key of G major
Three-Chord in Ab major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Ab I 2 Db IV 3 Eb V
What to play over it In Ab major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
Ab Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Ab major · The key of Ab major
Three-Chord in A major Bar Chord Numeral 1 A I 2 D IV 3 E V
What to play over it In A major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
A Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in A major · The key of A major
Three-Chord in Bb major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Bb I 2 Eb IV 3 F V
What to play over it In Bb major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
Bb Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes B♭ C D E♭ F G A
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Bb major · The key of Bb major
Three-Chord in B major Bar Chord Numeral 1 B I 2 E IV 3 F# V
What to play over it In B major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–3
B Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in B major · The key of B major
Documented in the wild Louie Louie The Kingsmen Twist and Shout The Beatles La Bamba Ritchie Valens Play it in Turnaround · The key of C major
Folk Standard I – IV – I – V
Folk / Country major 4 bars
Open, singalong folk and old-time country, endless campfire songs.
Folk Standard in C major Bar Chord Numeral 1 C I 2 F IV 3 C I 4 G V
What to play over it In C major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
C Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes C D E F G A B
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in C major · The key of C major
Folk Standard in Db major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Db I 2 Gb IV 3 Db I 4 Ab V
What to play over it In Db major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Db Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Db major · The key of Db major
Folk Standard in D major Bar Chord Numeral 1 D I 2 G IV 3 D I 4 A V
What to play over it In D major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
D Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes D E F♯ G A B C♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in D major · The key of D major
Folk Standard in Eb major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Eb I 2 Ab IV 3 Eb I 4 Bb V
What to play over it In Eb major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Eb Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Eb major · The key of Eb major
Folk Standard in E major Bar Chord Numeral 1 E I 2 A IV 3 E I 4 B V
What to play over it In E major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
E Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in E major · The key of E major
Folk Standard in F major Bar Chord Numeral 1 F I 2 Bb IV 3 F I 4 C V
What to play over it In F major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
F Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes F G A B♭ C D E
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in F major · The key of F major
Folk Standard in F# major Bar Chord Numeral 1 F# I 2 B IV 3 F# I 4 C# V
What to play over it In F# major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
F# Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in F# major · The key of F# major
Folk Standard in G major Bar Chord Numeral 1 G I 2 C IV 3 G I 4 D V
What to play over it In G major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
G Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes G A B C D E F♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in G major · The key of G major
Folk Standard in Ab major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Ab I 2 Db IV 3 Ab I 4 Eb V
What to play over it In Ab major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Ab Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Ab major · The key of Ab major
Folk Standard in A major Bar Chord Numeral 1 A I 2 D IV 3 A I 4 E V
What to play over it In A major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
A Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in A major · The key of A major
Folk Standard in Bb major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Bb I 2 Eb IV 3 Bb I 4 F V
What to play over it In Bb major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Bb Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes B♭ C D E♭ F G A
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Bb major · The key of Bb major
Folk Standard in B major Bar Chord Numeral 1 B I 2 E IV 3 B I 4 F# V
What to play over it In B major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
B Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in B major · The key of B major
Documented in the wild This Land Is Your Land Woody Guthrie Blowin' in the Wind Bob Dylan Play it in Turnaround · The key of C major
Garage Rock I – IV – V – IV
Rock major 4 bars
Driving three-chord motion that keeps circling back to IV, the garage-band engine.
Garage Rock in C major Bar Chord Numeral 1 C I 2 F IV 3 G V 4 F IV
What to play over it In C major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
C Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes C D E F G A B
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in C major · The key of C major
Garage Rock in Db major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Db I 2 Gb IV 3 Ab V 4 Gb IV
What to play over it In Db major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Db Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Db major · The key of Db major
Garage Rock in D major Bar Chord Numeral 1 D I 2 G IV 3 A V 4 G IV
What to play over it In D major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
D Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes D E F♯ G A B C♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in D major · The key of D major
Garage Rock in Eb major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Eb I 2 Ab IV 3 Bb V 4 Ab IV
What to play over it In Eb major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Eb Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Eb major · The key of Eb major
Garage Rock in E major Bar Chord Numeral 1 E I 2 A IV 3 B V 4 A IV
What to play over it In E major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
E Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in E major · The key of E major
Garage Rock in F major Bar Chord Numeral 1 F I 2 Bb IV 3 C V 4 Bb IV
What to play over it In F major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
F Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes F G A B♭ C D E
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in F major · The key of F major
Garage Rock in F# major Bar Chord Numeral 1 F# I 2 B IV 3 C# V 4 B IV
What to play over it In F# major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
F# Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in F# major · The key of F# major
Garage Rock in G major Bar Chord Numeral 1 G I 2 C IV 3 D V 4 C IV
What to play over it In G major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
G Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes G A B C D E F♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in G major · The key of G major
Garage Rock in Ab major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Ab I 2 Db IV 3 Eb V 4 Db IV
What to play over it In Ab major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Ab Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Ab major · The key of Ab major
Garage Rock in A major Bar Chord Numeral 1 A I 2 D IV 3 E V 4 D IV
What to play over it In A major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
A Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in A major · The key of A major
Garage Rock in Bb major Bar Chord Numeral 1 Bb I 2 Eb IV 3 F V 4 Eb IV
What to play over it In Bb major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
Bb Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes B♭ C D E♭ F G A
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in Bb major · The key of Bb major
Garage Rock in B major Bar Chord Numeral 1 B I 2 E IV 3 F# V 4 E IV
What to play over it In B major. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bars 1–4
B Major (Ionian) the plain major scale Notes B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §2 / §7.5
Play it in B major · The key of B major
Documented in the wild Wild Thing The Troggs Hang On Sloopy The McCoys Play it in Turnaround · The key of C major