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Chord progression · B major

Pachelbel’s Canon (I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V) in B major

An eight-chord sequence from the 1600s that pop writers still borrow. The bass walks down step by step while the chords above it flow smoothly.

Heard in Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel and many more.

Chords in B major
B→F♯→G♯m→D♯m→E→B→E→F♯
Numerals
IVviiiiIVIIVV

Play along

8 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1BI
2F♯V
3G♯mvi
4D♯miii
5EIV
6BI
7EIV
8F♯V

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

I B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC4D♯F♯B D♯ F♯
V F♯
1F♯3C♯4F♯2A♯1C♯1F♯
4A♯1C♯3F♯2A♯
C4A♯C♯F♯F♯/A♯
vi G♯m
4fr1G♯3D♯4G♯1B1D♯1G♯
3B2D♯4G♯1B
BC4D♯G♯G♯m/B
iii D♯m
6fr×1D♯3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
C4A♯D♯F♯D♯m/A♯
IV E
E2B3E1G♯BE
1G♯4EE2B
BC4EG♯E/G♯

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.

I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in B major

I–V–vi–IVI–IV–V–IVI–vi–IV–Vvi–IV–I–V12-bar bluesii–V–II–vi–ii–VI–♭VII–IV–I