This lesson shows you 25 recent Pop/Rock Songs on the piano that use the I-V-VI-IV chord progression in the original keys to help you start to understand how songs work a little and to show you new keys with sharps and flats.

SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT LIST OF SONGS

The first 6 tracks use the I-V-VI-IV throughout the whole song. The rest of the songs use the I-V-VI-IV pattern somewhere in the song and add in a few other chords to vary up the song.

There are lots of videos out there that show you how to play the I-V-VI-IV pattern and which songs use it, however this lesson also shows the KEYS each song is in.

When I started out trying to understand chords I found it hard to move away from C. As soon as those sharps and flats appeared I started to freak out. I found it difficult to play songs in more difficult keys like Gb or E major. It seemed to me like bands and artists were writing their songs in the hardest keys possible and I wondered whether they were doing it on purpose! I later found out that it’s all to do with the range of the voice and instrument – a song must always suit the vocal line.

This is why I’ve prepared this lesson in the original keys – and the more chords you know the more you can use them again later in other songs.

If you are willing to sing the vocal line of each song and you play the chords written out in this lesson you will be playing 25 pop songs. Right now! Plus you can jam along with the artist/band!

I’ve written all the chords in root position for now. The recordings are using various inversions of the chords and I will show you how to play some of the songs with the these inversions in an upcoming lesson. For now I’ve prepared all the songs in root position to make the songs easy to play.

Leave me a message and let me know which songs out of the 25 you would like me to work through with all the inversions? You can leave a comment on the website under any of the videos or email me directly at: greg@classicaltojazzpiano.com

Songs that only use the I-V-VI-IV Chord Progression/Pattern:

1. U2 – With or Without You
2. MATISYAHU – One Day
3. AKON – Don’t Matter
4. MICHEL TELO – Ai se eu te Pego ( If I Catch You )
5. IMAGINE DRAGONS – Demons
6. ONE REPUBLIC – Say ( All I Need )

Songs that use the I-V-VI-IV Chord progression plus a few other chords to vary the song a bit:

7. SNOW PATROL – Run
8. TRAIN – Hey, Soul Sister
9. ADELE – Someone Like You.
10. ALICIA KEYS – No One
11. JASON MRAZ – I’m Yours
12. TAYLOR SWIFT – All Too Well
13. ALPHAVILLE – Forever Young
14. GREEN DAY – When I Come Around
15. JOURNEY – Don’t Stop Believing
16. LADY GAGA – Paparazzi
17. KELLY CLARKSON – Already Gone
18. RIHANNA – Take A Bow
19. MISSY HIGGINS – Scar
20. THE BEATLES – Let It Be
21. NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Torn
22. MILEY CYRUS – Wrecking Ball
23. BLACK EYED PEAS – Where Is The Love
24. THE CALLING – Where Ever You Will Go
25. LENKA – The Show