I–IV–V (Three-Chord Classic)
I – IV – V
The foundation of rock & roll, 12-bar blues, country, and folk. If you can play three chords, you can play hundreds of songs.
Voicings in common keys
C major:CFG
G major:GCD
D major:DGA
A major:ADE
When you hear this
Examples: "Twist and Shout" (Beatles), "La Bamba", most 12-bar blues.
Songs that use this progression
Songs in our catalog whose chord set contains all chords from one of the key realizations above. Sorted by popularity.
KEEP ON SINGIN' MY SONG
Christina Aguilera
MediumKey E72 BPM
Awesome Is The Lord Most High
Chris Tomlin
MediumKey A138 BPM
YAKETY SAX
Boots Randolph
MediumKey G150 BPM
Give You Glory
Jeremy Camp
MediumKey D132 BPM
Born in Bethlehem
Third Day
EasyKey D144 BPM
Indescribable
Chris Tomlin
MediumKey B90 BPM
SOUL LIMBO
Booker T. & The MG's
MediumKey C120 BPM
Rocky Mountain High
John Denver
MediumKey E110 BPM
Carried To The Table
Leeland
MediumKey D68 BPM
Made To Worship
Chris Tomlin
MediumKey C86 BPM
Plane
Jason Mraz
MediumKey E80 BPM
With a Little Help from My Friends
Joe Cocker
MediumKey A75 BPM
Sing to the King
Billy Foote
EasyKey E108 BPM
Sympathy for the Devil
Guns N' Roses
AdvancedKey E100 BPM
Glory In The Highest
Chris Tomlin
EasyKey C78 BPM
I'M YOURS
Jason Mraz
MediumKey C85 BPM
JUST LIKE JESSE JAMES
Cher
MediumKey A78 BPM
LONELY
Akon
MediumKey C135 BPM
Proud Mary
Ike & Tina Turner
MediumKey D100 BPM
Thank God I'm a Country Boy
John Denver
EasyKey A100 BPM
Beautiful One
Jeremy Camp
MediumKey D120 BPM
GOODBYE ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Jewel
MediumKey A78 BPM
Follow Me
John Denver
EasyKey B120 BPM
TWO PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE
Brad Paisley
EasyKey C100 BPM
Other progressions to learn
I–V–vi–IV ("Axis of Awesome")vi–IV–I–V (Sensitive Female Progression)ii–V–I (Jazz Cadence)12-Bar BluesI–vi–IV–V (Doo-Wop / "50s Progression")Canon Progression (Pachelbel)Andalusian CadenceRoyal Road Progression (IV–V–iii–vi)i–III–IV–VI ("House of the Rising Sun")I–vi–ii–V (Jazz "Rhythm Changes" Turnaround)I–IV–I–V (Country Two-Step)