vi–IV–I–V

The same four, starting minor — wistful at the start, bright at the end — the turn from minor to major happens as early as the second bar.

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

The progression in C major

viAm IVF IC VG

In all twelve keys

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

Key	vi	IV	I	V
C major	Am	F	C	G
G major	Em	C	G	D
D major	Bm	G	D	A
A major	F#m	D	A	E
E major	C#m	A	E	B
B major	G#m	E	B	F#
F major	Dm	Bb	F	C
Bb major	Gm	Eb	Bb	F
Eb major	Cm	Ab	Eb	Bb
Ab major	Fm	Db	Ab	Eb
Db major	Bbm	Gb	Db	Ab
F# major	D#m	B	F#	C#

Why it sounds that way

These are exactly the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, just entered at a different point. The first chord decides what the ear takes for the tonic, which is why the same loop sounds sad here and confident there.

Where you hear it

Zombie — The Cranberries
Numb — Linkin Park
Grenade — Bruno Mars

Related progressions

I–V–vi–IVThe four chords I–vi–IV–VThe fifties 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.