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Folk chord progressions

4 progressions · 48 keyed pages

Folk stays in open position. The chords are the ones that ring without a barre, the motion is I–IV–V with the occasional ♭VII, and the shapes are chosen so a capo can move the whole song to fit a voice.

Tempo
70–160 BPM
Feel
All major key
Harmony
3 diatonic · 1 borrowed
Form
3, 4 bars · 4/4

The soundin G

I–IV–VG · C · D
IGIVCVD

Chord tones on the keyboard — the solid key is the root.

Full lesson

Uplifting3

I–IV–V
G · C · D
IGIVCVD
3 chordsbeginner80–160 BPM · 4/4
As heard in La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
I–V–vi–IV
G · D · Em · C
IGVDviEmIVC
4 chordsbeginner70–130 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Let It Be - The Beatles
I–IV–V–I
G · C · D
IGIVCVD
4 chordsbeginner70–140 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Hey Jude - The Beatles (chorus)

Energetic1

I–♭VII–IV–I
G · F · C
IG♭VIIFIVC
4 chordsintermediate90–150 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Songs built on these changes

Each one links to the progression behind it.

Nearby genres

CountryPopRockView all