The I-IV-V Progression · 2020. 11. 1. · The I-IV-V Progression The I-IV-V progression is often...

The I-IV-V Progression

There are several common chord progressions in popular music. A common one is the I-IV-V (1-4-5)

progression.


The I-IV-V progression is often used in early rock and roll music as well as a standard progression in blues.

Understanding how the progression works makes it easy to pick up and play many common songs in the ukulele world.

Understanding a few common progressions, like this one, decreases the dependency on song charts.

When you can play without song charts you will be more focused on your audience and it enhances your performance.

We will now look at two common methods used to find the notes in the I-IV-V progression.


The Math Method: The I-IV-V progression uses simple math to guide you to the

correct chords. Today we are going to focus on the key of “C”.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7C D E F G A B

If C = 1, then we count out to 4 which = F and 5 which = G So the 3 chords in our song are the 1-4-5 or C-F-G


The Math Method: Although this method works for most common keys, it does get a little tricky in

some keys due to the way music notes progress in standard notation. For example: In the key of F the I-IV-V is F-Bb-C Another example: In the key of Bb the I-IV-V is Bb-Eb-F


The Fretboard Method: The I-IV-V can also be derived from your ukulele fretboard.

Ukulele’s (like guitars and basses) are tuned to 4ths. So the keyboard offers a simple method to find the notes needed.

Please note that this method will only work on the G/C or E/A strings but not the C/E strings.


The Fretboard Method: Find the I note on the G string. For this example “C” (5 th fret) The IV will be the same fret on the C string (5th fret) or “F” Count up two frets on the C string to find the V (7th fret) of “G” This can be used for any key


The Memorization Method – You can always just memorize the list Here is a cheat sheet for the remainder of the keys:

A = A-D-E A# = A#-D#-F (or Bb = Bb-Eb-F) B = B-E-F# C = C-F-G C# = C#-F#-G# (or Db = Db-Gb-Ab) D = D-G-A D# = D#-G#-A# (or Eb = Eb-Ab-Bb) E = E-A-B F = F-Bb-C F# = F#-B-C# (or Gb = Gb-B-Db) G = G-C-D G# = G#-C#-D# (or A = Ab-Db-Eb)


The format the I-IV-V most commonly uses is the 12 bar (or 12 measure) format.

The progression is played out over 12 measures then rolls back to repeat over and over throughout the song.

For today we will work with the key of C to simplify the examples First you play 4 measures of the I (C is in this case) Then 2 measures of the IV (F in this case) Then 2 more measures of the I Then 1 measure of the V (G in this case) Then 1 measure of the IV Then 2 measures of the I


To make it a little easier the progression would look something like this:


Let’s play a popular song that use this progression; Hound Dog. The first verse shows the chords to help get the song

started (Note that the chords are not in the right position)

The second verse is without the chords so try to play it without the chords and “feel” where the chords fit


Let’s play some well known songs from the 50’s and 60’s that use the I-IV-V progression.

The following songs will not have any chords shown (only lyrics). Try to follow along using the 12 bar method we learned today.

Listen to the songs and try to feel where the chord changes are. You can do this by counting or by sensing the change in the melody.

The I-IV-V Progression"Rock Around The Clock"

So put your glad rags on and join me hon'We're gonna have some fun when the clock strikes one.

We're gonna rock around the clock tonightWe're gonna rock rock rock till the broad daylight

We're gonna rock, gonna rock around the clock tonight.

When the clock strikes two, three and fourWhen the band slows down, we're gonna yell for more.



When the chimes ring five, six and sevenOh we'll be right in seventh heaven.



The I-IV-V Progression"Johnny B. Goode"

Deep down in Louisiana close to New OrleansWay back up in the woods among the evergreensThere stood a log cabin made of earth and wood

Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. GoodeWho never ever learned to read or write so well

But he could play a guitar just like a-ringing a bell

Go go… Go Johnny go! Go… Go Johnny go!Go… Go Johnny go! Go… Go Johnny go!

Go… Johnny B. Goode!

He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sackGo sit beneath the tree by the railroad track

Oh, the engineer would see him sittin' in the shadeStrummin' with the rhythm that the drivers madeThe people passing by, they would stop and say

"Oh my, but that little country boy could play"

Go go… Go Johnny go! Go… Go Johnny go!Go… Go Johnny go! Go… Go Johnny go!

Go… Johnny B. Goode!

The I-IV-V Progression"Barbara Ann"

Ba ba ba ba Barbara AnnBa ba ba ba Barbara Ann

Oh Barbara Ann, take my handBarbara Ann

You got me rockin' and a-rollin'Rockin' and a-reelin'Barbara Ann ba ba

Ba Barbara Ann

Went to a dance, lookin' for romanceSaw Barbara Ann, so I thought I'd take a chance

With Barbara Ann, Barbara AnnTake my hand

You got me rockin' and a-rollin'Rockin' and a-reelin'Barbara Ann ba ba

Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann

The I-IV-V Progression"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On"

Come along my baby, whole lotta shakin' goin' onYes, I said come along my baby, baby you can't go wrong

We ain't fakin', while lotta shakin' goin' on

Well, I said come along my baby, we got chicken in the barnWoo-huh, come along my baby, really got the bull by the horn

We ain't fakin', whole lotta shakin' goin' on

Well, I said shake, baby, shake… I said shake, baby, shakeI said shake it, baby, shake it… And then shake, baby, shake

Come on over, whole lotta shakin' goin' on

Well, I said come along my baby, we got chicken in the barnWhose barn? What barn? My barn

Come along my baby, really got the bull by the hornWe ain't fakin', whole lotta shakin' goin' on

Shake it baby, shake, shake it baby, shakeWoo, shake baby, come on babe, shake it, baby, shake

Come on over, whole lotta shakin' goin' on

The I-IV-V Progression“At The Hop”

Well, you can rock it you can roll itDo the Stomp and even Stroll it at the hop

When the record starts spinnin'You Calypso and you Chicken at the hop

Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop

Let's go to the hop… Let's go to the hopLet's go to the hop… Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop

Well, you can swing it you can groove itYou can really start to move it at the hop

Where the jockey is the smoothestAnd the music is the coolest at the hop

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop… Let's go!

Let's go to the hop… Let's go to the hopLet's go to the hop… Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop


There are many, many songs that follow this progression. Some popular ones are:

Kansas City – Fats Domino Tush – ZZ TopRoute 66 – King Cole Trio (and others) Tutti Fruiti – Little RichardGimme One Reason – Tracy Chapman Move It On Over – Hank WilliamsFolsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash Maybellene – Chuck BerryMustang Sally – Buddy Guy Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray VaughnGoin’ Up Country – Canned Heat The Thrill is Gone – BB KingCall Me The Breeze – Lynyrd Skynyrd Boogie Shoes – KC & The Sunshine BandRave On – Buddy Holly Crossroads – CreamStuck in the Middle With You – Steelers Wheel Rock and Roll – Led ZepplinWipe Out – Surfaries Before You Accuse Me – Eric ClaptonHoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters The Twist – Chubby CheckerBe-Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent Stormy Monday – Allman BrosTakin’ Care of Business – BTO Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis PresleyRed House – Jimi Hendrix I Feel Good – James BrownKiss – Prince Spirit in the Sky – Norman GreenbaumI Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2 Rock & Roll Music – The BeatlesBlues Stay Away From Me- Delmore Bros. In the Summer Time – Mungo JerryShould I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash Batman Theme Song


There are also some variations on this progression

One common variation is that the V is played with a 7th chord (C-F-G7 in the key of C)

Another common variation is when the verse uses the 12 bar progression and the chorus uses a different structure but the same progression.


In “Blue Suede Shoes” we see 2 variations

1) A 7th chord is used right before the change to the IV

2) The V is played with a 7th chord


In “Folsom Prison Blues” we see 3 variations

1) A 7th chord is used right before the change to the IV

2) The V is played with a 7th chord

3) The IV is passed over in the 10th measure


I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (by U2) has a different take on the progression.

The verses are 16 measures long. The first 8 measures on the I-IV-V are played through twice

The chorus is 8 measure long. The last 4 measures of the I-IV-V are played through twice.


In the blues style of the 12 bar progression the last measure is used as a “turn” and the V is played for the 12 measure:


Some songs leave the 12 bar format that use a 16 bar pattern. Here are some familiar examples:

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