I–V–vi–IV progression
The pop-punk chord progression is the chord progression I-V-vi-IV.[1] For example, in the key of C major, this would be: C-G-Am-F.
It can also be used in the form vi-IV-I-V, which was dubbed the sensitive female chord progression by Boston Globe Columnist Marc Hirsh.[2] In C major this would be Am-F-C-G. Hirsh first noticed the chord progression in the song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne.[3] He claims he then began to notice the chord progression in many other songs. He named the progression because he claimed it was used by many members of the Lilith Fair in the late 1990s.[2]
Both are a variant of the doo-wop I-vi-IV-V progression, familiar from songs such as "Earth Angel" and "Donna".[2]
The popularity of the chord progression is demonstrated by the comedy group The Axis of Awesome in their "Four Chord Song" act. A 2009 recording of the act is a widely viewed clip on YouTube.[4]
Examples
Examples of use of the pop-punk progression include:
- Green Day, "When I Come Around"[1] and "Church on Sunday"[5]
- The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid and Self Esteem (although both are actually vi-IV-I-V, not I-V-vi-IV)[2]
- Toto, "Africa"[6]
- Beyonce, "If I Were a Boy"[6]
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Under the Bridge"[1][4]
- The Rolling Stones, "Beast of Burden"[1]
- The Beatles, "Let It Be"[1][4]
- Blink 182, almost their entire discography
- The All-American Rejects, "Night Drive" from Move Along[7]
- Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"[4]
- James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"[4]
- Axis of Awesome, "Four Chord Song"
- Eamon, Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)
References
- ^ a b c d e Bennett, Dan (2008). The Total Rock Bassist, p.63. ISBN 0739052691
- ^ a b c d Hirsh, Marc. "Striking a Chord", The Boston Globe, December 31, 2008.
- ^ Rundown 3/4: "Sensitive Female Chord Progression", Here and Now, March 4, 2009, wbur.org.
- ^ a b c d e Lynskey, Dorian (17 December 2010), "Don't Stop Believin': the power ballad that refused to die", The Guardian, p. 3 (Film & music), retrieved 19 February 2011
- ^ Dahlager, Jon (4 October 2000), "CD REVIEW: Green Day is 'Warning' you", Iowa State Daily, Factiva uwir000020010813dwa400ult
- ^ a b the Sensitive Female Chord Progression Blog.
- ^ Miers, Jeff (4 May 2007), "Pop power; All-American Rejects wildly accepted in gig in Buff State arena", The Buffalo News, p. G26, Factiva BFNW000020070505e35400007
Further reading
- Scott, Richard J. (2003), Chord Progressions for Songwriters, iUniverse, pp. 216–218, ISBN 0-595-26384-4
External links
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