IV – V – iii – viRoyal Road Progression (IV–V–iii–vi)
Wildly popular in J-pop, anime themes, and 80s/90s adult contemporary. The "iii" chord (mediant) gives a wistful color.
Other progressionsI–V–vi–IV ("Axis of Awesome")vi–IV–I–V (Sensitive Female Progression)I–IV–V (Three-Chord Classic)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)
CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, tobyMac featuring Leigh Nash
C
CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR
tobyMac featuring Leigh Nash
Easy C · ♩=96· 6 chords
FIGHTER, Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood
D
FIGHTER
Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood
Medium D · ♩=130· 8 chords
HOME, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
D
HOME
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Medium D · ♩=112· 7 chords
BEAUTY WILL RISE, Steven Curtis Chapman
C
BEAUTY WILL RISE
Steven Curtis Chapman
Medium C · ♩=141· 8 chords
Voicings in common keys
C major:FGEmAm
G major:CDBmEm
When you hear this
Examples: countless anime OPs/EDs, "Don't Know Why" (Norah Jones).
Songs above are from our catalog whose chord set contains all chords from one of the key realizations. Sorted by popularity.