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Chord progression · G major

Pachelbel’s Canon (I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V) in G 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 G major
G→D→Em→Bm→C→G→C→D
Numerals
IVviiiiIVIIVV

Play along

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

1GI
2DV
3Emvi
4Bmiii
5CIV
6GI
7CIV
8DV

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

The chords

I G
2G1BDGB3G
G1D3G2B
GBC4DG B D
V D
××D1A3D2F♯
1A2D3F♯A
AC4DF♯D/F♯
vi Em
E1B2EGBE
G3EE1B
GBC4EEm/G
iii Bm
×1B3F♯4B2D1F♯
3B1D1F♯1B
BC4DF♯B D F♯
IV C
×3C2EG1CE
GCE1C
CEGC 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 G major

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