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Chord progression · D major

The minor-feel pop progression (vi–IV–I–V) in D major

The pop progression started from the minor vi chord, so it feels darker and more urgent while using exactly the same chords.

Heard in “Zombie” – The Cranberries and many more.

Chords in D major
Bm→G→D→A
Numerals
viIVIV

Play along

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

1Bmvi
2GIV
3DI
4AV

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

The chords

vi Bm
×1B3F♯4B2D1F♯
3B1D1F♯1B
BC4DF♯B D F♯
IV G
2G1BDGB3G
G1D3G2B
BC4DGG/B
I D
××D1A3D2F♯
1A2D3F♯A
C4DAF♯D F♯ A
V A
×A1E2A3C♯E
2A1C♯EA
C4EAC♯A/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.

vi–IV–I–V in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in D major

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