C major · I – IV – V

I-IV-V Chord Progression in C major

In C major the I-IV-V progression is C – F – G.

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The three-chord foundation of rock and roll, folk and country. La Bamba and Twist and Shout are built on these three chords.

The chords

NumeralChordEasiest shape
ICx32010
IVF10321x
VG32000x

How to practise

Learn this one in the open keys (C, G, D, A, E) first. Together they cover hundreds of songs.

  1. Play one chord per bar at 60 BPM with a simple down-strum on each beat.
  2. Raise the tempo by 5 BPM once you can play eight rounds without a mistake.
  3. Change the strumming pattern: down, down-up, up-down-up.

Key facts about C major

C major contains the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. See the full C Major scale with fretboard diagrams, and use it to solo over the progression.

I-IV-V in other keys

Db majorD majorEb majorE majorF majorF# majorG majorAb majorA majorBb majorB major

Other progressions in C major

I-V-vi-IV12-Bar BluesI-vi-IV-V (50s progression)vi-IV-I-Vii-V-ICanon Progression

FAQ

What are the chords of I-IV-V in C major?

C – F – G.

What notes are in C major?

C major contains C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

Which scale can I solo with over I-IV-V in C major?

The C major scale fits, and the major pentatonic scale from C is the easiest choice.

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