Chord Progressions Using I, IV, and V – Hands-Free Ear Training 27

A chord progression is a progression of chords. Who knew? Once you can identify some common chord progressions, the ability to learn many songs by ear will no longer seem like a daunting task. The most common chords that songwriters use would be the I, IV, and V chords.

Here is a brief refresher on Roman numerals: If you harmonize the individual scale degrees in a major scale by stacking thirds on each root, you get this order of chords: 1 = major, 2 = minor, 3 = minor, 4 = major, 5 = major, 6 = minor, and 7 = diminished. This is true no matter what major key you are in. With Roman numerals, uppercase indicates major, lowercase indicates minor, and a little circle° on lowercase numerals indicates diminished. So, here is the order of major and minor chords using Roman numerals: I – ii – iii – IV – V – vi – vii°.

The I chord feels the most resolved. I find it much more likely that you’ll mix up the IV and V chords here. V is a little more tense than the IV chord, although I think the better way to hear these chords is to learn which scale degrees they contain. The V chord contains the 7th note of a major scale, otherwise known as a leading tone, or B in the key of C. Neither the I or IV chords contain this note, so if you learn to sing individual scale degrees over chords and listen to how they fit, this should immediately tell you which chord you are hearing.

Another method is to simply listen to the bass line. All of these chords are in root position, so if you can identify the intervals in the bass line it should tell you right away where you are in the scale.

Ultimately, the best practice you’ll get on this isn’t in this video. Learn which chords are in which keys and what their Roman numerals are, analyze the songs you know, and eventually it will become second nature.

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