" next to the song title. I would like to express my appreciation to Michael Kraskin, who assisted in creating these examples from a template I created in Flash, which I have since converted to MP4 video format for greater compatibility.Spotify playlist for these musical examples; songs identified by asterisks (**) are not currently available from Spotify.
The numbers represented by the Roman numerals stand for chords within a major key. If you build a three-note chord (a "triad") on the first note of a scale (known as the "root" tone), the symbol for that chord would be "I." In the key of C major, the root chord would be a C major chord (three notes: C-E-G). Each note of the scale is assigned a number, beginning with the root tone:
| Examples from the Revel textbook | |
| Key of C major | Key of Eb major |
The I-vi-IV-V progression simply represents a chord progression that proceeds from the root triad (I) to a minor triad built on the 6th note of the C scale (vi) to a major triad built on the 4th note of the scale (IV), then finally to a major triad built on the 5th note of the scale (V). Because an "example" paints a "thousand words," let me provide you with a familiar example of what the I-vi-IV-V progression actually sounds like. It would be difficult to grow up or to live for an extended time in the United States of America without hearing "Heart and Soul" composed by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Frank Loesser. Though few could probably identify the title of the piece or the composer/lyricist names, it's a song that just about anyone who can (kind of) play the piano can sit down to perform. Listen to the example below, as you watch the hands play the two parts. Do you recognize this tune? Have you every played it yourself or been present when a couple of friends sit down at the piano to perform this well-known piece?
Original video posted to YouTube by Dan at HD Piano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CSuPilb5I0
If you want to learn to play this yourself, point your browser to this YouTube link. After playing through the piece, you will be lead through learning the chord progression for yourself! [Not a requirement, of course ... but it could be fun! ;)]
Now that you have the sound of the I-vi-IV-V progression in your ears (and perhaps under your fingers, if you watched the video above), let's check out some early rock tunes that used that same progression, though not always in the key of C, of course!
To play any of these examples, simply click on the song title or the video icon "" next to the song title. I would like to express my appreciation to Michael Kraskin, who assisted in creating these examples from a template I created in Flash, which I have since converted to MP4 video format for greater compatibility.