ACADEMY← Exit to Academy PortalThe Pop Staple (I - V - vi - IV)
Sequence the famous 'four-chord progression' that forms the backbone of Taylor Swift, Adele, and pop-punk anthems.
Tonic and Dominant (I - V)
We begin with the two most stable chords in key of C Major: C Major (I) and G Major (V).
We place C Major (C3, E3, G3 - rows 24, 28, 31) on steps 1-4, and G Major (D3, G3, B3 - rows 26, 31, 35) on steps 5-8.
Notice how we use a G major inversion (placing D3 lower) to keep the voice movement smooth.
Complete Lesson Steps
Step 1: Tonic and Dominant (I - V)
We begin with the two most stable chords in key of C Major: **C Major (I)** and **G Major (V)**.
We place **C Major** (C3, E3, G3 - rows 24, 28, 31) on steps 1-4, and **G Major** (D3, G3, B3 - rows 26, 31, 35) on steps 5-8.
Notice how we use a G major inversion (placing D3 lower) to keep the voice movement smooth.
Step 2: Adding Emotional Depth (vi)
To add tension, we introduce the relative minor chord: **A Minor (vi)**.
We place **A Minor** (C3, E3, A3 - rows 24, 28, 33) on steps 9-12.
The transition from major to minor chords is the emotional engine of pop songwriting, providing a touch of sadness before the resolution.
Step 3: The Resolution (IV)
Finally, we resolve the loop back to the tonic with the subdominant **F Major (IV)** chord.
We place **F Major** (C3, F3, A3 - rows 24, 29, 33) on steps 13-16.
This completes the classic C - G - Am - F four-chord progression that resolves seamlessly back into step 1.
Click **Load Pattern into Studio** below to inject this progression into your synth workspace and start writing melodies over it!