How about a little ... Ear Training


Common Chord Progressions In Popular Music

cartoon guitar player by bethann93 (vecteezy.com) cartoon guitar player by bethann93 (vecteezy.com)

Here are some songs that can help you to easily recognize some of the most common chord progressions in popular music.

I - IV

Yes, these songs (almost) only use two chords.

Bob Marley Three Little Birds
Bruce Springsteen Born In The USA
Wreckless Eric Whole Wide World
Johnny Cash Singer Of Songs

I - V

Billy Ray Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart

I - V - IV

The Who Baba O'Riley

I - IV - V

Ritchie Valens La Bamba

I - IV - V - I

The Proclaimers I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

I - IV - V - IV

Steve Miller Band The Joker
Katrina & The Waves Walking On Sunshine

I - V - vi - IV

This is the famous pop or money progression. Remember 1564, the year William Shakespeare was born (and Galileo Galile)

U2 With Or Without You
Bob Marley No Woman, No Cry
Snow Patrol Run
Billy Joel We Didn't Start The Fire

V - vi - IV - I

This is still the same order as the "money progression" just shifted by one. (1)5641

Marvin Gaye Sexual Healing
Robbie Williams Angels

vi - IV - I - V

This is still the same order as the "money progression" shifted by two. (15)6415

Eagle-Eye Cherry Save Tonight
Toto Africa
Iggy Pop The Passenger

I - IV - vi - V

This is a variation of the "money progression" swaping the IV and V. 1465

Fine Young Cannibals She Drives Me Crazy
Robbie Williams Angels

I - vi - IV - V

Ben E. King Stand By Me
The Police Every Breath You Take
Frank Zappa Bobby Brown

I - vi - ii - V

Tom Waits The Piano Has Been Drinking
Charles Trenet La Mer

Dominant chain (Cycle Of Fifths)

Jimi Hendrix Hey Joe

Blues progression

U2 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

stepwise diatonic + I - IV - V

Bob Dylan Like A Rolling Stone