Piano chord progressions for beginners

A piano chord progression is the order in which chords follow each other, and a handful of progressions are behind a great many songs. Learn the six below and you will recognize them everywhere. Each is written with roman numerals, so it works in any key, and spelled out in C major, where every chord uses only white keys, with G and D major versions to try next. Every chord name links to a page with its notes, fingering and inversions.

How roman numerals work

Roman numerals count the notes of the major scale. In C major the scale is C D E F G A B, so the chord built on the first note is I (C major), on the fourth IV (F major) and on the fifth V (G major). Capital numerals mean major chords and small ones minor: ii is D minor, iii E minor and vi A minor. The same numbers in G major give I = G, IV = C, V = D and vi = E minor. The chords of every key are listed on the chord finder.

1. I – IV – V – I

In C: C – F – G – C. In G: G – C – D – G. In D: D – G – A – D.

These are the three primary chords of a key, and together they contain every note of its scale. The progression sounds complete because V leads so strongly back to I. Many folk songs, hymns and early rock and roll songs use nothing else. On this site, When the Saints Go Marching In and Amazing Grace can be accompanied with just these three chords.

2. I – V – vi – IV

In C: C – G – Am – F. In G: G – D – Em – C. In D: D – A – Bm – G.

This loop of four chords is used in a great many pop songs, usually repeated all the way through. It moves from the bright I to the minor vi and back, which gives it a hopeful sound.

3. I – vi – IV – V

In C: C – Am – F – G. In G: G – Em – C – D.

Often called the 1950s progression, after the many songs of that decade built on it. It uses the same four chords as the previous progression in a different order, and the ending on V makes each loop lead into the next.

4. ii – V – I

In C: Dm – G7 – C. In G: Am – D7 – G. In D: Em – A7 – D.

The most common chord move in jazz. The V chord is usually played as a dominant 7th, whose added note pulls even more strongly toward I. Try it slowly and listen to how G7 wants to land on C.

5. The 12-bar blues

In C, one chord per bar: C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 | F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 | G7 – F7 – C7 – C7.

The 12-bar blues uses I, IV and V, very often as dominant 7th chords, spread over twelve bars in three lines of four. Many variations exist, such as a G7 in the last bar to lead back to the beginning.

6. Pachelbel's progression

In D: D – A – Bm – F♯m – G – D – G – A, or I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V.

This is the bass line of Pachelbel's Canon, repeated under the whole piece. The Canon in D page has its famous melody, which fits over these chords.

Practice tips

• Use inversions. Instead of jumping your whole hand from C E G to F A C, play F as C F A, keeping your thumb on C. The piano chords for beginners lesson walks through this with C, F, G and A minor.
• Count out loud. Hold each chord for four beats and change on "one." A steady count matters more than speed.
• Add the left hand. Play the root of each chord low with the left hand, then try the whole chord in both hands.
• Transpose. Once a progression is easy in C, play it in G and then D. The roman numerals stay the same; only the chords change.

The keyboard at the top of this page has C major lit. Play the chords of each progression on it, or open the chord finder to see every chord lit up and hear it.