Country Chord Progressions From Hit Songs
The chord progressions behind Wagon Wheel, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Fast Car, Something in the Orange and more. Every chord is spelled out, you can switch to any key, hear each loop in your browser and download it as a free MIDI file.
I – V – vi – IV
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The four-chord loop of pop, played on acoustic instruments. Familiar chords make it easy for a crowd to sing along.
Tip: Put a fiddle or harmonica line between the vocal phrases to fill the loop.
I – vi – V – IV
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After the I, the minor vi adds a moment of longing, then the loop steps down through V and IV and returns home. It sounds like a journey back.
Tip: A loop that walks downwards suits lyrics about going home or looking back.
IV – I – vi – V
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Starting on IV gives the loop a sense of motion from the first chord. Ending on V keeps the chorus leaning forward.
Tip: Keep the melody moving over the V at the end, so it pulls into the next line.
VI – III – VII – i
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Three major chords build to a minor landing. It is the same loop as the chorus of Boulevard of Broken Dreams, which shows how far a progression can travel between genres.
Tip: Let the vocal hold a long note over the i chord at the end of the loop.
i – III – VII – i
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A minor loop that keeps returning to the i. Most country songs are in major, so a minor key immediately signals tension and drama.
Tip: Repeat the key name or word on the i chord each time the loop returns, like Jolene does with its title.
I – IV – I – V
Where you hear it: Classic country, bluegrass and honky-tonk
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The three primary chords are the foundation of classic country and bluegrass. With no minor chords, it sounds straightforward and honest.
Tip: Add a walking bass line between the chords (for example I → IV via the 2nd and 3rd of the scale) for an instant classic-country feel.
Progressions with a lower-case i are shown in a minor key, the rest in major. Songs often use different chords in different sections; the section is listed for each example. "Song key" is the key of the recording as given in the published transcription.
All 6 Country progressions as MIDI, in every key
Every progression on this page in all 12 keys (72 MIDI files, chords and bass on separate tracks, at 96 BPM). You also get our full Chord Progression MIDI Pack (864 files) and The Songwriter's Cheat Sheet (PDF).
Your downloads are ready. Links to the full MIDI pack and the cheat sheet are on their way to your inbox too.
DOWNLOAD COUNTRY MIDI → FULL MIDI PACK CHEAT SHEET PDFWant these progressions as full grooves with bass and drums, or in 6 playing styles? See the Song Starter MIDI Kit ($19) and MIDI Pack PRO ($9).
How Country progressions work
Country music has always been built on the three primary chords (I, IV and V), and the genre prizes story and melody over harmonic surprise. That makes it a perfect genre to learn songwriting in: the chords stay out of the way and the lyric does the work.
Modern country borrows the four-chord loops of pop (Wagon Wheel uses the same loop as Someone Like You), and newer artists like Zach Bryan use minor loops that would sit just as well in indie rock.
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Tell the story, keep the chords. Country listeners notice a clever line more than a clever chord. A simple loop keeps the focus on the lyric.
- Use a capo. Many country songs are played with open G, C and D shapes and a capo on a higher fret, which lets the singer pick the key without learning new chord shapes.
- Change the chord on the key word. In story songs, a chord change on the most important word makes it land.
Turn the progression into a song
SongwriterMap covers what goes on top of the chords: song structure, hook writing, melody shapes, lyric devices and a 7-point melody check, with an exercise for every item. Try the free demo in your browser.
Quick answers
What chord progressions are used in Country hit songs?
Common Country loops include I – V – vi – IV (Wagon Wheel); I – vi – V – IV (Take Me Home, Country Roads); IV – I – vi – V (Fast Car); VI – III – VII – i (Something in the Orange); i – III – VII – i (Jolene). Every progression on this page is shown in the key of a real song, with playback and a free MIDI download.
What chord progression does Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show use?
Wagon Wheel uses I – V – vi – IV in the verse: A – E – F♯m – D in A major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver use?
Take Me Home, Country Roads uses I – vi – V – IV in the verse: A – F♯m – E – D in A major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Fast Car by Luke Combs (cover of Tracy Chapman) use?
Fast Car uses IV – I – vi – V in the chorus: D♭ – A♭ – Fm – E♭ in A♭ major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Something in the Orange by Zach Bryan use?
Something in the Orange uses VI – III – VII – i in the chorus: C – G – D – Em in E minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Jolene by Dolly Parton use?
Jolene uses i – III – VII – i in the chorus: C♯m – E – B – C♯m in C♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
Can I use the same chord progression as a hit song?
Yes. Chord progressions are shared building blocks of music, and the loops on this page are used in hundreds of songs. What makes a song yours is the melody, the lyric and the production. (General information, not legal advice.)
Can I download these chord progressions as MIDI?
Yes. Every progression has a free MIDI download in the key and tempo you choose, with the chords and the bass on separate tracks, ready to drag into any DAW.
Sources: chord analyses from published transcriptions: Wagon Wheel, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Fast Car, Something in the Orange, Jolene. Song titles are given for reference only. No lyrics, recordings or sheet music are reproduced, and The Sonic Secrets is not affiliated with any artist or label.