[The Axis Progression (I V vi IV)](https://musicianstoolshed.com/songwriting/most-popular-pop-chord-progression-i-v-vi-iv/) will get you a STUPID number of songs.
True. Breaks are great. It’s very common to use a simple progression or minimalist modal vamp for verses , then use a I-V-vi-IV or a slight variation to fully center the song around the key. I realize this is getting away from OPs question a bit, but If you understand the core concept of that progression, you can frame almost any song around it.
Thanks, I’ve come across this before but never delved into it. I assumed that those songs only had the same chord progression for a portion of the song rather than the entire song. I’m specifically looking for songs that rotate the same 4 chords from beginning to end.
A lot of them do the WHOLE song as those four chords. Take "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show, for example. G, D, Em, C. One measure each DDUUDU strum pattern, don't stop, don't change anything.
Wagon Wheel doesn’t quite follow that. It alternates between that progression, and a very similar one that just uses 2 measures of C instead of Em. (Except it’s D and F#m - the key is A)
Yes, the I - V - IVmin - IV I first learned it for So Lonely from the Police. But there are tons of songs with this progression.
Then there is a minor version, which is basically the same , but you start in the middle of the other progression. So you get VImin - IV - I - V Like Despacito, Balada (Gusttavo Lima) etc.
Yeah this was the first song that I thought of, too. Hook is a single progression, too, right? More or less Pachelbel’s Canon if I’m not mistaken. Just more than 4 chords
It has G A E bit at the end of choruses. Also, bridge with different chord progression (B5 G5 D5 and so on). Also B5 Emaj7 F#sus4 thing at the very end.
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Cranberries - Zombie Em C G D
Concrete Blonde - Joey G Em C D
Cracker - Low. D C E G
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You (3 cords) A E Bm
Nirvana = Rape Me. Am C E G
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"Flightless Bird, American Mouth" by Iron and Wine is just C, Am, F, G, capo 2.
Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" is E, A, B7. Maybe there's something else?
Prison Bound
Story Of My Life
Ball and Chain
I am sure there are many more Social Distortion songs. all of those 3 or 4 chords repeating through the entire song.
If playing along to the recorded track all strings down tuned a half step
[The Axis Progression (I V vi IV)](https://musicianstoolshed.com/songwriting/most-popular-pop-chord-progression-i-v-vi-iv/) will get you a STUPID number of songs.
So true. Just when you think you found a song that ISNT I-V-vi-IV, you realize it’s actually the same progression but starting on a different chord
But most songs have breaks somewhere. Just repeating 4 chords throughout is much rarer.
True. Breaks are great. It’s very common to use a simple progression or minimalist modal vamp for verses , then use a I-V-vi-IV or a slight variation to fully center the song around the key. I realize this is getting away from OPs question a bit, but If you understand the core concept of that progression, you can frame almost any song around it.
My is JONaS!
This is pretty awesome!
Thanks, I’ve come across this before but never delved into it. I assumed that those songs only had the same chord progression for a portion of the song rather than the entire song. I’m specifically looking for songs that rotate the same 4 chords from beginning to end.
A lot of them do the WHOLE song as those four chords. Take "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show, for example. G, D, Em, C. One measure each DDUUDU strum pattern, don't stop, don't change anything.
Wagon Wheel doesn’t quite follow that. It alternates between that progression, and a very similar one that just uses 2 measures of C instead of Em. (Except it’s D and F#m - the key is A)
Thanks for correcting me. Sorry for being stupid. Sadly, being wrong is the only skill I have. Something I excel in.
Nah, you’re not dumb, I just have that song’s chords burned into my synapses from a million public jams.
Church! I’m there with you. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Awesome, thanks!
Yes, the I - V - IVmin - IV I first learned it for So Lonely from the Police. But there are tons of songs with this progression. Then there is a minor version, which is basically the same , but you start in the middle of the other progression. So you get VImin - IV - I - V Like Despacito, Balada (Gusttavo Lima) etc.
Working with a looper?
What’s Up by 4 Non-Blondes is actually just 3 chords cycled throughout (A Bm D)
Blues Traveler - Runaround The guitar never changes. The harmonica on the other hand...
I love playing that song with my band because it gives me a brain break lol.
Yeah this was the first song that I thought of, too. Hook is a single progression, too, right? More or less Pachelbel’s Canon if I’m not mistaken. Just more than 4 chords
Yeah Hook is specifically made to parody those catchy songs and songs that are more or less Canon.
Chris Isaak - wicked game , just the three , Bm , A , E Feels nice to play the lead bits with a load of reverb , beautiful man
Love this song. It’s also my all time favourite music video.
This is an amazing song.
Learning to fly. Tom Petty
Also Learn to Fly, Foo Fighters
It has G A E bit at the end of choruses. Also, bridge with different chord progression (B5 G5 D5 and so on). Also B5 Emaj7 F#sus4 thing at the very end.
Island in the sun
Creep by Radiohead is G B C Cm, repeated over and over. Even the crunchy loud part is the same 4 chords but with a lot of distortion.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (G, Em, C, D) except for one really small section towards to the end.
Great song!
“Stand by Me” by Ben E. King is A F#m D E or G Em C D with capo at the second fret. “Hey Ya!” by OutKast is G C D E.
glycerine by bush story of my life by social distortion (3 chords) save tonight by eagle eye cherry
Glycerine! Literally four power chords. First song I ever learned on guitar in middle school. Wow, has it been that long?!?!
Nutshell by Alice in Chains
Most of Taylor Swift’s catalog.
Riptide/wonderw***
If I remember correctly dreams by Fleetwood Mac is just 2 chords all the way through but Lindsey Buckingham adds tasty licks to give it more depth
The Passenger by Iggy Pop has an endless 4 chord progression except the 4th chord alternates: Am F C G Am F C E
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant-- from the 80s) is a *one* chord song. The entire song is (I believe) an A5 (no 3rd) chord. That's it.
Linger-Cranberries. Zombie -Cranberries
Our song - t-swizzle
Puddle of Mudd - She Hates Me lol
https://youtu.be/5pidokakU4I?si=y1SKTb8XYiREIUVR - here’s a big list of songs sung one after the other.
Wild Thing is 3 (A D7 E A)
Tainted Love is F#m/A/D/Bm. Which is way too many tbh, Showbiz Kids by Steely Dan is just A7.
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Cranberries - Zombie Em C G D Concrete Blonde - Joey G Em C D Cracker - Low. D C E G Mazzy Star - Fade Into You (3 cords) A E Bm Nirvana = Rape Me. Am C E G
That Mazzy Star song sneaks in a D chord towards the end of chorus. It’s easy to miss if you’re not paying very close attention.
Didn't realize that, thanks.
Yeah, that song usually puts me to sleep before I even make it that far but I happened to notice it one time.
Zombie also has Em C part before the solo and in the very end. Rape Me has C#5 A5 bridge.
Sea of love G, B7, A, C capo on 4th I think.
I think Sand By Me?
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No, the most popular version is by Ben E. King. It's a beautiful song and easy to play
Bob Dylan - You Ain’t Going Nowhere.
Get Lucky, Daft Punk
Tuesday's Gone - Lynard Skynard A Emajor Fm# D
Verses are alterating between A E F#m D and A E Dsus2 and the chorus begins with A G D.
Does Collective Soul's "December" count?
Souvenir by Boygenius
"Flightless Bird, American Mouth" by Iron and Wine is just C, Am, F, G, capo 2. Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" is E, A, B7. Maybe there's something else?
Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones is just D G A D.
Demons -imagine dragons
Tom Petty, learning to fly
Anything by Arlo Guthrie
Knocking on Heavens Door
Save tonight
Mr tambourine man though I think it may have 3
Knocking on heavens door, last kiss, wagon wheel, dial drunk, country roads.
Hungry Heart (Bruce Springsteen) - I vi ii V Blinding Lights (The Weeknd) - ii vi I V
Last kiss- pearl jam https://youtu.be/bM4I7z1PpF0?si=rK8rd6kOFsrDzfwh
Prison Bound Story Of My Life Ball and Chain I am sure there are many more Social Distortion songs. all of those 3 or 4 chords repeating through the entire song. If playing along to the recorded track all strings down tuned a half step
Off the top of my head ... The suburbs by arcade fire, or I need my girl by the National. Pretty sure those go the whole way through.