I–V–IV–V

The rock loop — driving and open, with no minor colour.

Degrees: I–V–IV–V
Mode: major
Bars: 4
In C major: C – G – F – G

The progression in C major

In all twelve keys

The same degrees, shifted twelve times. To move a song into another key, read off the row.

Key	I	V	IV	V
C major	C	G	F	G
G major	G	D	C	D
D major	D	A	G	A
A major	A	E	D	E
E major	E	B	A	B
B major	B	F#	E	F#
F major	F	C	Bb	C
Bb major	Bb	F	Eb	F
Eb major	Eb	Bb	Ab	Bb
Ab major	Ab	Eb	Db	Eb
Db major	Db	Ab	Gb	Ab
F# major	F#	C#	B	C#

Why it sounds that way

Primary degrees only, major only. The dominant appears twice and pushes back both times, with the subdominant stepping aside in between. That keeps the tension up without ever turning away.

Where you hear it

Twist and Shout
Louie Louie
Good Riddance — Green Day

Related progressions

I–IV–VThe three primary chords I–IV–I–VThe alternating progression

Anotona does this for you

Photograph a page of sheet music or play the melody — Anotona finds the key, engraves the notes and transposes them into any other. Free.

See Anotona

Every note on this page is computed, not typed in — following the rule that also makes F# major spell its seventh degree E#, not F.