Royal Road Progression (IV–V–iii–vi)
IV – V – iii – vi
Wildly popular in J-pop, anime themes, and 80s/90s adult contemporary. The "iii" chord (mediant) gives a wistful color.
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 that use this progression
Songs in our catalog whose chord set contains all chords from one of the key realizations above. Sorted by popularity.
CONQUEROR
Estelle and Jussie Smollett
EasyKey C66 BPM
GET BACK UP AGAIN
Anna Kendrick
EasyKey G74 BPM
Perfectly Lonely
John Mayer
MediumKey C100 BPM
LOVE ON THE BRAIN
Rihanna
MediumKey G86 BPM
CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR
tobyMac featuring Leigh Nash
EasyKey C96 BPM
HAPPY
Leona Lewis
EasyKey C75 BPM
FIGHTER
Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood
MediumKey D130 BPM
MARRY THE NIGHT
Lady Gaga
MediumKey C132 BPM
THE LOOK OF LOVE
ABC
MediumKey C112 BPM
WHAT'S MY NAME
Tim James
MediumKey E108 BPM
END OF TIME
Beyoncé
MediumKey A117 BPM
GIVE ME LOVE
Ed Sheeran
MediumKey C99 BPM
GREATER
MercyMe
MediumKey D116 BPM
I WAS HERE
Beyonce
EasyKey G111 BPM
CHRISTMAS
Lady A
EasyKey G120 BPM
PARTY IN THE U.S.A.
Miley Cyrus
MediumKey G95 BPM
HOME
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
MediumKey D112 BPM
I WILL BE
Leona Lewis
MediumKey G74 BPM
PRETTY AMAZING GRACE
Neil Diamond
MediumKey B136 BPM
THIS IS GOSPEL
Panic! At The Disco
MediumKey D120 BPM
CHERISH
Madonna
EasyKey D120 BPM
ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK
Sting
MediumKey B102 BPM
RUDE BOY
Rihanna
EasyKey E86 BPM
BEAUTY WILL RISE
Steven Curtis Chapman
MediumKey C141 BPM
Other progressions to learn
I–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 Cadencei–III–IV–VI ("House of the Rising Sun")I–vi–ii–V (Jazz "Rhythm Changes" Turnaround)I–IV–I–V (Country Two-Step)