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Chord progression · F♯ major

The ’50s progression (I–vi–IV–V) in F♯ major

The doo-wop progression. The same four chords as the pop progression in a different order, giving it a sweeter, more nostalgic feel.

Heard in “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King, “Earth Angel” – The Penguins and many more.

Chords in F♯ major
F♯→D♯m→B→C♯
Numerals
IviIVV

Play along

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

1F♯I
2D♯mvi
3BIV
4C♯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♯
C5F♯A♯C♯F♯ A♯ C♯
vi D♯m
6fr×1D♯3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
3A♯4D♯2F♯1A♯
C5F♯A♯D♯D♯m/F♯
IV B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC5F♯D♯B/F♯
V C♯
4fr×1C♯2G♯3C♯4E♯1G♯
1G♯2C♯3E♯4C♯
E♯C5G♯C♯C♯/E♯

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–vi–IV–V in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in F♯ major

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