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What are the four chords in every pop song?

They use the same four chords: I, IV, V, and vi, which are probably the most common chords in all of pop music. Because of this, they all sound somewhat similar; the difference is in the order of the chords.

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Four-Chord Schemas Megan Lavengood and Bryn Hughes

Key Takeaways I, IV, V, and vi are the most common harmonies in pop music, and they can be arranged into several schemas , each with a distinct sound. Each schema can have variations, such as chord substitution or rotation , while still remaining recognizable as that schema. The doo-wop schema is I–vi–IV–V , and it was common in 1960s pop music. Common variations: I–vi–ii–V (ii substitutes for IV) IV–V–I–vi (rotation) is , and it was common in 1960s pop music. Common variations: The singer/songwriter schema is vi–IV–I–V or I–V–vi–IV , and it was common in 1990s singer/songwriter music. It can also be understood in its relative minor: i–VI–III–VII. A common variation is IV–I–V–vi (rotation). is , and it was common in 1990s singer/songwriter music. It can also be understood in its relative minor: A common variation is IV–I–V–vi (rotation). The hopscotch schema is IV–V–vi–I, and it is common in recent pop music (since 2010). It can also be understood in its relative minor: VI–VII–i–III. A common variation is VI–V–i–III (V substitutes for VII in minor).

Chapter Playlist

The progressions discussed in this chapter all have something in common. They use the same four chords: I, IV, V, and vi, which are probably the most common chords in all of pop music. Because of this, they all sound somewhat similar; the difference is in the order of the chords. Example 1 shows music notation, chord symbols, and Roman numerals for the doo-wop schema : I–vi–IV–V, or C–Ami–F–G in C major. Example 1. The doo-wop schema (left) and a common variation of it that replaces IV with ii (right). The name for this cyclical chord progression comes from its common use in rock ballads from the 1950s and early 1960s, such as “Duke of Earl” by Gene Chandler (1962). However, it has continued to be used frequently ever since: examples include the verse and chorus of “Friday” by Rebecca Black (2011) and the chorus of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler (1983) (starts at 0:49).

Substituting ii for IV

Because ii and IV share the same function in this chord progression, ii can be swapped out for IV, as in Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” (1966).

Rotation

Because the doo-wop schema is typically employed in cycles, it can also start on a different chord in the cycle and then proceed through the same succession of chords ( rotation ). For example, “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay (2008) works through a cyclical repetition of the same succession of chords, but the phrases begin on IV rather than I (Example 2).

Example 2. Rotated doo-wop progression in Coldplay, “Viva la Vida.”

The singer/songwriter schema may be the best known of all the four-chord schemas. A common Roman numeral analysis for this schema is vi–IV–I–V, or Ami–F–C–G in C major, but the rotation starting with I is also exceedingly common. On top of that, either rotation may be understood as having either the major tonic or the relative minor tonic. This is best understood through Example 3.

Example 3. The singer/songwriter schema in its two common rotations.

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Tonal ambiguity

One important feature of this progression is that it does not, on its own, clearly communicate a definitive tonic chord. This property is known as tonal ambiguity . An example is “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (2017). The chord progression, Bmi–G–D–A, can sound like vi–IV–I–V in D major or like i–VI–III–VII in B minor to different listeners (Example 4). One reason the singer/songwriter schema is ambiguous is because there is no authentic cadence: the two potential cadential motions are either plagal (IV–I) or stepwise (VII–i). Without a strong harmonic cadence, listeners might only be able to determine the tonic chord—if at all—by the progressions before and after the singer/songwriter schema, which chords in the cycle begin and end it, and the important pitches of the melody. Example 4. Both D major and B minor are plausible tonic chords for “Despacito” because of its use of the tonally ambiguous singer/songwriter schema. In fact, some songwriters take advantage of this duality in songs that modulate back and forth between relative major and minor keys, as well as in songs with some parallel ambiguity in the text (hence its usefulness for those mid-1990s songwriters). An example is “What About Love” by Heart (1982), which has an obvious D minor intro, a D minor/F major verse (begins at 0:23) using the singer/songwriter progression, and a chorus obviously in F major (begins at 1:10)—listen while following along with the chart below (Example 5). timestamp section progression (chord symbols) progression (Roman numerals) implied key 0:00 intro Dmi–C–B♭–C over D pedal i–VII–VI-VII over tonic pedal D minor 0:23 verse Dmi–B♭–F–C vi–IV–I–V

or

i–VI–III–VII ambiguous between D minor and F major 1:10 chorus F/A–Bb–C I6–IV–V F major 1:33 interlude Dmi–C–B♭–C over D pedal i–VII–VI-VII over tonic pedal D minor 1:44 verse Dmi–B♭–F–C vi–IV–I–V

or

i–VI–III–VII ambiguous between D minor and F major 2:08 chorus F/A–B♭–C I6–IV–V F major 2:29 bridge (guitar solo) B♭–C IV–V F major 2:53 chorus F/A–B♭–C I6–IV–V F major 3:11 coda B♭–C–D over D pedal ♭VI–♭VII–I over tonic pedal D major Example 5 . "What about Love" by Heart exploits the singer/songwriter schema's tonal ambiguity to link between a minor-mode intro and a major-mode chorus.

Rotations

As discussed above, this schema has two equally common rotations that start the progression on I and vi. From time to time, the singer/songwriter progression might also begin on the IV chord, resulting in a “deceptive” variant of this progression that ends with V–vi—a deceptive cadence (IV–I–V–vi). The chorus (starts at 1:11) of “Alejandro” by Lady Gaga (2009) uses this rotation of the singer/songwriter schema.

Hopscotch

In recent years (since about 2010), another type of four-chord schema has become increasingly common: IV–V–vi–I, or VI–VII–i–III in minor. Examples include “Dancing with a Stranger” by Sam Smith (2019) and “No Brainer” by DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, and Quavo (2018). We will refer to this as the hopscotch schema because of its root motion: step, step, skip. Like the singer/songwriter schema , the hopscotch schema can be tonally ambiguous . In other words, in the progression F–G–Ami–C, either Ami or C might sound like tonic (Example 6). There is often no definitive cadential motion, especially moving into the C chord.

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Example 6. The hopscotch schema, with annotations showing the “step-step-skip” pattern.

Replacing VII in minor with V

An especially common harmonic substitution that encourages a minor-mode interpretation of the hopscotch schema is to replace the subtonic VII chord with the major V chord, so that VI–VII–i–III becomes VI–V–i–III. One song that does this is “Nightmare” by Halsey (2019). Although these chords have the same harmonic function , the two chords have quite distinct colors, since the major V chord in minor uses ti [latex](\hat7)[/latex] while VII uses te [latex](\downarrow\hat7)[/latex]. Some songs, like “Mixed Personalities” by YNW Melly, invert this V chord, which allows the bass motion of the hopscotch schema to stay the same (step-step-skip) even though the root motion has changed (Example 7). Example 7. The hopscotch schema with V replacing VII, meaning the G of the VII is replaced with the G♯ of the V chord.

Recognizing by Ear

All of these four-chord schemas sound similar to one another, since they all use I, IV, V, and vi. All the schemas can be rotated, so it’s not simply a matter of seeing where the progression begins and ends! Instead, try listening to how the major tonic is approached (Example 8).

Example 8. Each schema approaches the major tonic from a different chord.

In the doo-wop schema, the tonic is approached with very traditional authentic motion , as in classical music. , as in classical music. In the singer/songwriter schema, the major tonic is approached with plagal motion . . In the hopscotch schema, the major tonic is approached by a skip (not related to any traditional cadence). Even if you think the real tonic is the minor tonic, listening to the approach to the major tonic will help distinguish among these four-chord schema options. Listening to the approach to the minor tonic may not be helpful, since both the singer/songwriter and the hopscotch schemas approach the minor tonic by step.

Further reading

Axis of Awesome. 2011. 4 Chords . YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb4jjgJb5rtQqQN5GcypFow .

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb4jjgJb5rtQqQN5GcypFow Doll, Christopher. 2017. Hearing Harmony: Toward a Tonal Theory for the Rock Era . Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. . Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. Richards, Mark. 2017. “Tonal Ambiguity in Popular Music’s Axis Progressions.” Music Theory Online 23 (3). http://mtosmt.org/issues/mto.17.23.3/mto.17.23.3.richards.html.

Assignments

Identifying Four-Chord Schemas (.pdf, .docx). Students must identify which schema is used in a number of songs, each of which clearly presents the schema. Worksheet playlist Variations on Four-Chord Schemas (.pdf, .docx). Using songs that put slight variations on the schemas discussed in this chapter, asks students to identify schemas and variations on the schemas. Worksheet playlist

viva.pressbooks.pub - Four-Chord Schemas – OPEN MUSIC THEORY - VIVA Open Publishing
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