Piano Chord Progressions to Practice

Compare I–V–vi–IV, I–vi–IV–V and I–IV–V–I in C, E and A major. Read exact four-bar examples and understand what the Roman numerals mean.

Five degree patterns mapped across six verified major keys. Every chord symbol and note list comes from the shared Chords by Key data.

Read the labels in order

One pattern, four kinds of information

Key: The major scale that supplies the available chord rows.
Roman numeral: A chord’s degree and quality relative to the selected key.
Chord symbol: The actual named chord after the degree is mapped into that key.
Chord notes: The verified pitch spelling from the shared by-key row.

Shared by-key chord source

Choose a key and map each degree

The pattern keeps its Roman numerals. The selected key supplies each chord symbol, quality and note spelling.

Key

C majorC · D · E · F · G · A · B

Selected key

C major progression map

Key: C major · Scale notes: C · D · E · F · G · A · B

4 chord positions

Common four-chord loop

I–V–vi–IV

Ends on IV, then returns to I when the pattern repeats.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolAm
Chord notesA · C · E
Qualityminor
4
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

Clear return to the tonic

I–IV–V–I

Places the return to I inside the final position.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor

3 chord positions

ii–V–I

ii–V–I

Moves from the second degree through V to the tonic.

1
Roman numeralii
Chord symbolDm
Chord notesD · F · A
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

vi–IV–I–V

vi–IV–I–V

Starts away from the tonic and places V at the end of the unit.

1
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolAm
Chord notesA · C · E
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

I–vi–IV–V

I–vi–IV–V

Preserves the source-pack pattern that finishes on V.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolAm
Chord notesA · C · E
Qualityminor
3
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor

Selected key

G major progression map

Key: G major · Scale notes: G · A · B · C · D · E · F♯

4 chord positions

Common four-chord loop

I–V–vi–IV

Ends on IV, then returns to I when the pattern repeats.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolEm
Chord notesE · G · B
Qualityminor
4
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

Clear return to the tonic

I–IV–V–I

Places the return to I inside the final position.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor

3 chord positions

ii–V–I

ii–V–I

Moves from the second degree through V to the tonic.

1
Roman numeralii
Chord symbolAm
Chord notesA · C · E
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

vi–IV–I–V

vi–IV–I–V

Starts away from the tonic and places V at the end of the unit.

1
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolEm
Chord notesE · G · B
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

I–vi–IV–V

I–vi–IV–V

Preserves the source-pack pattern that finishes on V.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolEm
Chord notesE · G · B
Qualityminor
3
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor

Selected key

D major progression map

Key: D major · Scale notes: D · E · F♯ · G · A · B · C♯

4 chord positions

Common four-chord loop

I–V–vi–IV

Ends on IV, then returns to I when the pattern repeats.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolBm
Chord notesB · D · F♯
Qualityminor
4
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

Clear return to the tonic

I–IV–V–I

Places the return to I inside the final position.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor

3 chord positions

ii–V–I

ii–V–I

Moves from the second degree through V to the tonic.

1
Roman numeralii
Chord symbolEm
Chord notesE · G · B
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

vi–IV–I–V

vi–IV–I–V

Starts away from the tonic and places V at the end of the unit.

1
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolBm
Chord notesB · D · F♯
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

I–vi–IV–V

I–vi–IV–V

Preserves the source-pack pattern that finishes on V.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolBm
Chord notesB · D · F♯
Qualityminor
3
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolG
Chord notesG · B · D
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor

Selected key

E major progression map

Key: E major · Scale notes: E · F♯ · G♯ · A · B · C♯ · D♯

4 chord positions

Common four-chord loop

I–V–vi–IV

Ends on IV, then returns to I when the pattern repeats.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolB
Chord notesB · D♯ · F♯
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolC♯m
Chord notesC♯ · E · G♯
Qualityminor
4
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

Clear return to the tonic

I–IV–V–I

Places the return to I inside the final position.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolB
Chord notesB · D♯ · F♯
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor

3 chord positions

ii–V–I

ii–V–I

Moves from the second degree through V to the tonic.

1
Roman numeralii
Chord symbolF♯m
Chord notesF♯ · A · C♯
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolB
Chord notesB · D♯ · F♯
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

vi–IV–I–V

vi–IV–I–V

Starts away from the tonic and places V at the end of the unit.

1
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolC♯m
Chord notesC♯ · E · G♯
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolB
Chord notesB · D♯ · F♯
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

I–vi–IV–V

I–vi–IV–V

Preserves the source-pack pattern that finishes on V.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolC♯m
Chord notesC♯ · E · G♯
Qualityminor
3
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolB
Chord notesB · D♯ · F♯
Qualitymajor

Selected key

A major progression map

Key: A major · Scale notes: A · B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G♯

4 chord positions

Common four-chord loop

I–V–vi–IV

Ends on IV, then returns to I when the pattern repeats.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolF♯m
Chord notesF♯ · A · C♯
Qualityminor
4
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

Clear return to the tonic

I–IV–V–I

Places the return to I inside the final position.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor

3 chord positions

ii–V–I

ii–V–I

Moves from the second degree through V to the tonic.

1
Roman numeralii
Chord symbolBm
Chord notesB · D · F♯
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

vi–IV–I–V

vi–IV–I–V

Starts away from the tonic and places V at the end of the unit.

1
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolF♯m
Chord notesF♯ · A · C♯
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

I–vi–IV–V

I–vi–IV–V

Preserves the source-pack pattern that finishes on V.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolA
Chord notesA · C♯ · E
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolF♯m
Chord notesF♯ · A · C♯
Qualityminor
3
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolD
Chord notesD · F♯ · A
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolE
Chord notesE · G♯ · B
Qualitymajor

Selected key

F major progression map

Key: F major · Scale notes: F · G · A · B♭ · C · D · E

4 chord positions

Common four-chord loop

I–V–vi–IV

Ends on IV, then returns to I when the pattern repeats.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolDm
Chord notesD · F · A
Qualityminor
4
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolB♭
Chord notesB♭ · D · F
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

Clear return to the tonic

I–IV–V–I

Places the return to I inside the final position.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolB♭
Chord notesB♭ · D · F
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor

3 chord positions

ii–V–I

ii–V–I

Moves from the second degree through V to the tonic.

1
Roman numeralii
Chord symbolGm
Chord notesG · B♭ · D
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

vi–IV–I–V

vi–IV–I–V

Starts away from the tonic and places V at the end of the unit.

1
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolDm
Chord notesD · F · A
Qualityminor
2
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolB♭
Chord notesB♭ · D · F
Qualitymajor
3
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor

4 chord positions

I–vi–IV–V

I–vi–IV–V

Preserves the source-pack pattern that finishes on V.

1
Roman numeralI
Chord symbolF
Chord notesF · A · C
Qualitymajor
2
Roman numeralvi
Chord symbolDm
Chord notesD · F · A
Qualityminor
3
Roman numeralIV
Chord symbolB♭
Chord notesB♭ · D · F
Qualitymajor
4
Roman numeralV
Chord symbolC
Chord notesC · E · G
Qualitymajor

Start with one four-bar example

Hear the sequence

A chord progression is an ordered sequence of harmonies. I–V–vi–IV becomes C–G–Am–F in C major, E–B–C-sharp minor–A in E major, and A–E–F-sharp minor–D in A major. The original examples below give a concrete register and four counts per chord.

Read C–G–Am–F as four chord changes. The prepared example gives each chord one bar of 4/4, with four quarter-note beats per bar. Its pattern is I–V–vi–IV in C major.

The preserved source dataset contains three patterns in C, E and A major. This page also maps ii–V–I and vi–IV–I–V, then derives every displayed chord from the same six verified major-key tables used by Chords by Key.

Separate the pattern from its voicing

Roman numerals identify degrees relative to the selected key. They do not specify the octave, hand, inversion, rhythm or instrument sound. Those choices must be given by the individual realization.

Changing the key changes the pitches while retaining the degrees. Changing the voicing can retain the chord names while rearranging which notes are lowest. Neither operation should silently change an advertised example.

Compare three different endings

Compare three patterns

The collection includes I–V–vi–IV, I–vi–IV–V, and a four-bar I–IV–V–I practice example. Try the first two as loops, then compare the last pattern’s final return to I. The preserved source data includes all three keys and every chord’s notes.

Explore an effect

For a “beautiful” starting point, try the I–vi–IV–V example slowly, sounding chord tones in sequence. For a “happy” starting point, try the I–IV–V–I example with light, even pulses. These are subjective playing suggestions: neither label is a property guaranteed by the chord order.

I–V–vi–IV ends this four-bar unit on IV, making it useful for observing what happens when the sequence repeats. I–vi–IV–V finishes on V, so a following I changes the sense of arrival. I–IV–V–I includes that return in its final bar.

These descriptions tell you where the prepared unit starts and ends. They do not guarantee a happy, sad or beautiful effect. Tempo, texture, register, surrounding music and the listener can change that impression.

Read first, then try the changes

Read one bar’s symbol and exact notes before moving to the next. When playback is implemented, the active bar, sounding pitches and displayed notes must use the same data. No sound should start merely because the page loads.

The current examples do not prescribe transition fingerings, a minimum practice speed or a fixed hand allocation. Work with the note references first rather than treating these arrays as a complete piano-performance lesson.

Read all four chord symbols.
Name one chord’s three tones without looking at its answer.
Compare the notes of two adjacent bars.
Try the change, then return to the first bar.

Low register changes the listening example

Several preserved examples begin in octave 3. These are intentional reference registers, not a recommendation that every left-hand accompaniment should use close-position low triads.

An alternative with wider spacing or a separate bass would need its own note data and explanation. Do not label the same MIDI array as a new left-hand or jazz voicing.

Use individual chord pages when a change is unclear

A progression should not hide uncertainty about an individual chord. Open that chord’s reference to check the third, bass or spelling, then return to the same bar of the sequence.

The reference tables remain readable without JavaScript. A transport, automatic looping or live performance feedback must not be advertised until those behaviors are actually implemented and tested.

Questions and answers

How many progressions are included?

Five degree patterns are available in each of six verified major keys. The source package supplied three patterns in C, E and A; the page maps every pattern from the shared by-key chord rows.

Does a major-key pattern always sound happy?

No. The pattern does not determine an emotional response on its own. Mood labels should not replace note, rhythm and context information.

Do the Roman numerals tell me which fingers to use?

No. They label harmonic degrees. Fingerings and hand allocation are separate decisions.