Chord progression · C major
Pachelbel’s Canon (I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V) in C 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 C major
- C→G→Am→Em→F→C→F→G
- Numerals
- IVviiiiIVIIVV
Play along
8 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose
Strum pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →
The chords
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.