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Chord progression · C♯ major

The pop progression (I–V–vi–IV) in C♯ major

Probably the most-used progression in modern pop. It starts home, lifts to V, dips into the minor vi for a touch of emotion, then eases back through IV.

Heard in “Let It Be” – The Beatles, “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey, “No Woman, No Cry” – Bob Marley and many more.

Chords in C♯ major
C♯→G♯→A♯m→F♯
Numerals
IVviIV

Play along

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

1C♯I
2G♯V
3A♯mvi
4F♯IV

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

The chords

I C♯
4fr×1C♯2G♯3C♯4E♯1G♯
1G♯2C♯3E♯4C♯
C4E♯C♯G♯C♯ E♯ G♯
V G♯
4fr1G♯3D♯4G♯2B♯1D♯1G♯
1G♯2D♯4G♯3B♯
B♯D♯G♯G♯/B♯
vi A♯m
×1A♯3E♯4A♯2C♯1E♯
3A♯1C♯1E♯1A♯
C4E♯C♯A♯A♯m/C♯
IV F♯
1F♯3C♯4F♯2A♯1C♯1F♯
4A♯1C♯3F♯2A♯
C4C♯F♯A♯F♯/C♯

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–IV in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in C♯ major

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