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Chord progression · F♯ major

Pachelbel’s Canon (I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V) in F♯ 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 F♯ major
F♯→C♯→D♯m→A♯m→B→F♯→B→C♯
Numerals
IVviiiiIVIIVV

Play along

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

1F♯I
2C♯V
3D♯mvi
4A♯miii
5BIV
6F♯I
7BIV
8C♯V

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

The chords

I F♯
1F♯3C♯4F♯2A♯1C♯1F♯
4A♯1C♯3F♯2A♯
C4C5F♯A♯C♯F♯ A♯ C♯
V C♯
4fr×1C♯2G♯3C♯4E♯1G♯
1G♯2C♯3E♯4C♯
C4E♯C5G♯C♯C♯/E♯
vi D♯m
6fr×1D♯3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
C4C5F♯A♯D♯D♯m/F♯
iii A♯m
×1A♯3E♯4A♯2C♯1E♯
3A♯1C♯1E♯1A♯
C4E♯C5A♯C♯A♯m/E♯
IV B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
C4BC5D♯F♯B/D♯

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 F♯ major

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