The Language of Music - Tom Brooks Music

CHAPTER 16 : FAMILIAR CHORD PROGRESSIONS

Given the myriad of harmonic options that are possible, there are several

familiar Chord Progressions that are used often in popular music. We have

discussed the prevalence of the PRIMARY CHORDS - I, IV, V - in the Key

of

‘C Major’: C, F, G. The I Chord pulls strongly to the IV Chord and the V

Chord pulls strongly back to the I Chord. Several of the song examples in

the previous chapters are built almost exclusively on the Primary Chords:

I – IV – V CHORD PROGRESSIONS:

“Lord I Lift Your Name On High” by Rick Founds

I – IV – V – I – IV – V

“Beautiful One” by Tim Hughes

IV – V – IV – V – IV – V – I

“Lord Reign in Me” by Brenton Brown

I – V – IV – V – I – V – IV – V – I

“Amazing Grace” classic hymn

I – IV – I – V – I – IV – I – V – I