Pop Chord Progressions From Hit Songs
The chord progressions behind Someone Like You, Wagon Wheel, Stand By Me, Every Breath You Take 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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Stability (I), lift (V), a touch of sadness (vi) and a warm release (IV). The Axis of Awesome built their "4 Chords" medley on this loop because so many hits share it.
Tip: Let the melody peak over the IV at the end of the loop, then fall back as the I returns.
I – vi – IV – V
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Doo-wop made this loop famous in the 1950s. Ending on V throws the loop back to the start, so it feels like it could turn forever.
Tip: Play it with add9 and sus2 voicings, as The Police do, and it stops sounding like 1958.
i – VI – III – VII
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The same four chords as vi–IV–I–V, heard from the minor side. Starting on the minor chord makes a bright loop feel serious and urgent. It is equally common in EDM (see Faded and Wake Me Up).
Tip: Over the i chord, let the melody sit on the minor 3rd. That single note tells the listener the song is in minor.
i – iv – VI – VII
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Two minor chords set the groove, then VI and VII climb back towards the i. The rising end of the loop makes the restart feel like a small arrival every four bars.
Tip: Loops like this work best with a rhythmic, almost percussive topline. Let the chords stay out of the way.
i – v – VII – IV
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The major IV chord in a minor key is the fingerprint of the Dorian mode. It adds a bright lift to a minor loop, which is why Dorian often sounds nostalgic rather than sad.
Tip: Put the most hopeful word of the lyric over the major IV chord.
IV – V – I – vi
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Starting on IV delays the home chord, so each arrival on I feels earned. Ending on vi keeps the loop from settling.
Tip: A sus4 on the V (as in Viva la Vida) adds tension that the I then releases.
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 Pop 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 POP 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 Pop progressions work
Most pop hits are built on short loops of three or four chords that repeat through a whole section, often through the whole song. The progression is rarely what makes a pop song distinctive. It is the ground the melody, the lyric and the production stand on. A familiar loop is an advantage: the ear accepts it at once and all the attention goes to the topline.
Two families dominate: the major "four-chord" loop (I–V–vi–IV and its rotations) and minor loops that use the same chords heard from the minor side (i–VI–III–VII). Modern pop increasingly leans on minor and modal loops, like the Dorian i–v–VII–IV of Blinding Lights.
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Keep the loop, change the rhythm. Many pop songs use one progression for verse and chorus and create contrast with the harmonic rhythm instead: two chords per bar in the pre-chorus, one chord per bar in the chorus.
- Start the loop somewhere else. I–V–vi–IV, V–vi–IV–I and vi–IV–I–V are the same four chords. Starting on the vi makes the section feel darker without changing a single chord.
- Colour the chords, not the progression. Add9, sus2 and sus4 versions (as in Every Breath You Take and Viva la Vida) make a common loop sound like your own.
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 Pop hit songs?
I – V – vi – IV is one of the most common chord progressions in pop music. Common Pop loops include I – V – vi – IV (Someone Like You); I – vi – IV – V (Stand By Me); i – VI – III – VII (Despacito); i – iv – VI – VII (Shape of You); i – v – VII – IV (Blinding Lights). 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 Someone Like You by Adele use?
Someone Like You uses I – V – vi – IV in the chorus: A – E – F♯m – D in A major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
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 Stand By Me by Ben E. King use?
Stand By Me uses I – vi – IV – V in the verse and chorus: A – F♯m – D – E in A major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Every Breath You Take by The Police use?
Every Breath You Take uses I – vi – IV – V in the verse (with add9 and sus2 colours): A♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭ in A♭ major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Despacito by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee use?
Despacito uses i – VI – III – VII in the chorus: Bm – G – D – A in B minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Shape of You by Ed Sheeran use?
Shape of You uses i – iv – VI – VII in the intro and chorus: C♯m – F♯m – A – B in C♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Blinding Lights by The Weeknd use?
Blinding Lights uses i – v – VII – IV in the chorus (F Dorian): Fm – Cm – E♭ – B♭ in F minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Viva la Vida by Coldplay use?
Viva la Vida uses IV – V – I – vi in the verse (V played as V7sus4): D♭ – E♭ – A♭ – Fm in A♭ major, 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: Someone Like You, Wagon Wheel, Stand By Me, Every Breath You Take, Despacito, Shape of You, Blinding Lights, Viva la Vida. 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.