Major Mode

Chord Shuttles

I - ii

I - iii

I - IV (Plagal Shuttles)

I - V

I - vi

More Examples

I - ii

1) Temptations, “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me),” verse & chorus

From Sky's the Limit (1971), written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong

Audio: YouTube (0:24–1:27)

C Dm7 C Dm7

Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by

C Dm7 C Dm7 C

I say to myself, you're such a lucky guy

Dm7 C Dm7

To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true

C Dm7 C Dm7

Out of all the fellas in the world, she belongs to you

C Dm7

But it was just my imagination

C Dm7

Runnin' away with me

C Dm7

It was just my imagination

C Dm7

Runnin' away with me

2) Wham!, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” chorus

From Make it Big (1984), written by George Michael.

Audio: YouTube (0:36–1:03)

C

Wake me up before you go-go

Dm C

Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo

C

Wake me up before you go-go

Dm C

I don't want to miss it when you hit that high

C

Wake me up before you go-go

Dm C

'Cause I'm not plannin' on going solo

C

Wake me up before you go-go

Em Dm C9 F/C C7

Take me dancing tonight

3) Lily Allen, “Smile,” chorus

From Alight, Still (2006), written by Jackie Mittoo, Clement Dodd, Lyiola Babalola, Darren Lewis, Lily Allen

Audio: YouTube (1:02–1:21)
Note: The whole song uses the same progression.

Gm F

At first when I see you cry

Gm

It makes me smile

F

Yeah, it makes me smile

Gm F

At worst I feel bad for awhile

Gm

But then I just smile

F

I go ahead and smile

4) Cyndi Lauper, “Time After Time,” verse

From She’s So Unusual (1983), written by Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman

Audio: YouTube (0:15–0:30)

Dm/C C Dm/C C Dm/C C Dm/C C

Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you.

Dm/C C Dm/C C Dm/C C Dm/C C

Caught up in circ les, confusion is nothing new.

5) Jack Johnson, “Upside Down,” verse 1

From Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George (2006), written by Jack Johnson and Ben Harper

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:28–1:03)

6) Hozier, “Work Song,” verse

From Hozier (2014), written by Hozier

Audio: YouTube (0:29–1:01)

B♭ Cm

Boys workin' on empty

B♭ Cm

Is that the kinda way to face the burning heat?

B♭ Cm

I just think about my baby

B♭

I'm so full of love I could barely eat

B♭ Cm

There's nothing sweeter than my baby

B♭ Cm

I never want once from the cherry tree

B♭ Cm

'Cause my baby's sweet as can be

B♭

She give me toothaches just from kissin' me

I - iii

1) Mars Argo, “Runaway Runaway,” verse

From Mars Argo (2015), written by Mars Argo and Titanic Sinclair

Audio: YouTube (0:17–0:49)
Harmonic Rhythm: | C | Em | (x3)

C Em

Is there anybody listening?

C

Eager words are making me an awful mess

Em

You say you need me

C

We're running out of time

I guess I fear the fear of consequence

Em

You say you'll leave me

But you'll be sorry

2) David Bowie, “Space Oddity,” verse

Single (1969), written by David Bowie

Audio: YouTube (0:28–0:42)

C Em

Ground Control to Major Tom

C Em

Ground Control to Major Tom

3) The Jam, “Going Underground,” pre-chorus

From Going Underground (1980), written by Paul Weller

Audio: YouTube (0:18–0:28)

B D#m

Something's happening here today

B D#m

A show of strength with your boy's brigade

B D#m

And I'm so happy and you're so kind

B D#m

You want more money, of course I don't mind

I - IV (Plagal Shuttles)

For additional examples see the "I, IV" tab at the bottom of the Chord Progression spreadsheet here. See the instructor version of the spreadsheet here.

Backing Track: See the I-IV Chord Loops from Pop Repertoire here.

1) R.E.M., “Everybody Hurts,” verse

From Automatic for the People (1993), words and music by William Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, and Michael Stipe

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:15–0:45)

2) Buffalo Springfield, “For What It's Worth,” verse

Single (1966), words and music by Stephen Stills

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:10–0:28)

3) The Ramones, “I Wanna Be Sedated,” verse

Single (1966), words and music by Stephen Stills

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:05–0:17)

4) Bruce Springsteen, “Glory Days,” verse

From Born in the USA (1985), words and music by Bruce Springsteen

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:55–1:10)

5) John Lennon, “Imagine,” verse

From Imagine (1971), words and music by John Lennon

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:12–0:37)

6) Wilson Picket, “In the Midnight Hour,” verse

From In the Midnight Hour (1965), words by Wilson Picket, music by Steve Cropper

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:12–0:30)

7) Kristin Chenoweth & Idina Menzel, “Defying Gravity,” verse 1

From Wicked (2003), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Scores: Image, MuseScore (full score with piano)
Audio: YouTube (1:16–1:32)

8) Ben Folds, “Brick,” verse 1

From Whatever and Ever Amen (1997), written by Darren Jessee & Ben Folds

Scores: Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:22-0:44)

9) Benson Boone, “Slow it Down,” verse and chorus

From Fireworks & Rollerblades (2024), written by Jason Evigan, Connor McDonough, Riley McDonough, Benson Boone & Jack LaFrantz

Scores: PDF, Image (verse), Image (chorus), MuseScore
Audio:
- - Verse: YouTube (0:08–0:32)
  - Chorus: YouTube (0:59–1:22)

10) Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile,” verse 1

Single (2024), words and music by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, James Fauntleroy, D’Mile & watt

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:08–0:30)

11) Stevie Wonder, “What Christmas Means to Me,” verse 1

From Someday At Christmas (1967), written by Marvin Gaye, Allen Story & George Gordy

Audio: YouTube (0:11–0:29)
Instructor Note:
| I | IV7 | (x6)

C Fmaj7
Candles burning low

C Fmaj7
Lots of mistletoe

C Fmaj7
Lots of snow and ice

C Fmaj7
Everywhere we go

C Fmaj7
Choirs singing carols

C Fmaj7
Right outside my door

I IV7
Candles burning low

I IV7
Lots of mistletoe

I IV7
Lots of snow and ice

I IV7
Everywhere we go

I IV7
Choirs singing carols

I IV7
Right outside my door

12) Ariana Grande, “We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love),” chorus

From eternal sunshine (2024), written by Ariana Grande, Max Martin & ILYA

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (1:27–1:43)

13) Brandie Carlile, “You and Me On the Rock,” verse 1

From In These Silent Days (2022), written by Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings

Audio: YouTube (0:10–0:33)
Harmonic Rhythm: |G | C | C | G | (x2)

G

They build wooden houses on frozen ponds

C

In the summertime when the water's gone

C

Diagonal lines in their rolled-out lawns

G

And the sage always smells so pretty

G

But nobody cares where the birds have gone

C

When the rain comes down on Babylon

C

The stone mason's phone rings all day long

G

And you gotta get back to the city

14) Chappell Roan, “HOT TO GO!,” chorus

From The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2024), written by Chappell Roan & Dan Nigro

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (2:48–3:16)

15) Lizzy McAlpine, “Apple Pie,” verse

From Give Me a Minute (2020), written by Lizzy McAlpine

Audio: YouTube (0:10–0:31)
Harmonic Rhythm:| I | IV | (x4)

B♭ E♭ B♭ E♭

Some days I’m lonely, and some days I’m not,

B♭ E♭ B♭ E♭

Some days I am only, a little bit sad, not a lot.

16) Fanny, “Charity Ball,” Opening Chorus & Verse 1

From Charity Ball (1971), written by Alice de Buhr, Jean Millington, and June Millington

Audio: YouTube ( 0:14–0:51)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| A | A | A | A | (x2)
| D | D | D | D |
| D | D | A | A |
| A | A | A | A |

[Chorus]

A

Dance, ooh, stand, ooh

Move to charity ball

Dance, ooh, stand, ooh

Move to charity ball

[Instrumental Interlude]

D

[Verse 1]

D

Get the musicians ready

Get them good and hot

A

Good and hot, woo

Stand and deliver

Give em everything you've got

You got my number

17) Fanny, “Place in the Country,” verse

From Charity Ball (1971), written by Nickey Barclay

Audio: YouTube ( 0:11–0:23)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G | C | G | C | (x2)

G

Standing on a hilltop

C

Wishing on a quick star

G C

Enemies all around me

G

Got to make a rest stop

C

Wonder where my friends are

G C

It's about time they found me

18) Lila Downs, “I Would Never,” verse

From Shake Away (2008), written by Paul Buchanan

Audio: YouTube ( 0:06–1:07)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| A | A | A | A |
| A | A | A | A |
|D|D|D|D|A|A| (x2)

A

I have walked a thousand miles

I have worked as fast as I can
D

And I have raised my precious child
A

To be a woman

A

I have walked up and down

I have wandered from place to place

D

And I have raised my weary hand
A

To my face

19) Avett Brothers, “I and Love and You,” chorus

From I and Love and You (2009), written by Seth Avett & Scott Avett

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore, Braille
Audio: YouTube ( 0:53–1:18)

I - V

For additional examples see the "I, V" tab at the bottom of the Chord Progression spreadsheet here. See the instructor version of the spreadsheet here.

1) The Byrds, “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season),” verse 2

From the Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965), written by Pete Seeger

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore

Audio: YouTube (1:07–1:19)

2) The Kinks, “Tired of Waiting for You,” verse 1

From the Kinda Kinks (1965), written by Ray Davies

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore

Audio: YouTube (0:29–0:44)

3) The Police, “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” chorus

From the Ghost in the Machine (1981), written by Sting

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:35–0:46)

4) Panic! At The Disco, “Do It To Death,” chorus

From Viva Las Vengeance (2022), written by Brendon Urie, Jake Sinclair, Mike Viola, and Butch Walker

Audio: YouTube (0:18–0:32)

C

Take me to the limit

C

Take me to the limit

C G C

Nothing lasts forever, so we'll give it a try
C

Take me to the limit

C

Take me to the limit

C G C

Do it all to death, now before we die

5) Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” verse

From Pendulum (1971), written by John Fogerty

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:13–0:45)

6) Janis Joplin, “Me and Bobby McGee,” verse

From Pearl (1971), written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:05–0:29)

7) Ike & Tina Turner, “River Deep-Mountain High,” mm. 19–26

From River Deep-Mountain High (1966), words and music by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:05–0:29)

8) Bryan Adams, “Summer of '69,” mm. 3–18

From Reckless (1985), words and music by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:04–0:30)

9) Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Up Around the Bend,” mm. 5–12

From Cosmo's Factory (1970), words and music by John Fogerty

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:15–0:29)

10) The Beatles, “Yellow Submarine,” mm. 17–24

From Revolver (1966), words and music by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:36–0:53)

11) Billy Ray Cyrus, “Achy Breaky Heart,” mm. 21–28

From Some Gave All (1992), words and music by Don Von Tress

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (1:00–1:16)

12) The Drifters, “Save the Last Dance for Me,” verse

From Save the Last Dance for Me (1960), words and music by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:02–0:18)

13) Hank Williams, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou),” verse

Single (1951), words and music by Hank Williams

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:06–0:29)

14) Eric Clapton, “Tulsa Time,” mm. 1–16

From Backless (1985), written by Danny Flowers

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:16–0:47)

I - vi

1) Jeff Buckley, “Hallelujah,” intro and verse

From Grace (1994), written by Leonard Cohen

Audio: YouTube (1:10–1:27)

[Intro: C Am C Am . . . . ]

C Am

I heard there was a secret chord

C Am

That David played and it pleased the Lord

2) Angelo Balalamenti, “Twin Peaks Theme”

From the TV series, Twin Peaks (1990)

Score: Image
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:26)

3) Lizzo, “Truth Hurts,” verse

From Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) (2019), written by Mina Lioness, Ricky Reed, jesse saint john, Steven Cheung & Lizzo

Audio: YouTube (0:11–0:36)

C Am C
I just took a DNA test, turns out I'm 100% that bitch

Am
Even when I'm crying crazy

C Am C
Yeah, I got boy problems, that's the human in me

C Am
Bling bling, then I solve 'em, that's the goddess in me

C
You coulda had a bad bitch, non-committal

Am C
Help you with your career just a little

Am C Am
You're 'posed to hold me down, but you're holding me back

C Am
And that's the sound of me not calling you back

4) Mother Mother, “Keep,” verse

From Dance and Cry (2018), written by Ryan Guldemond & Mother Mother

Audio: YouTube (1:15–1:34)

C Am C
I write it down, but to read it doesn't work

C Am C
Take it to town, but to be seen doesn't work

C Am C
Smack it around, but that only make it worse

C
I make it worse

5) The Isley Brothers, “Shout (pt. 1 and 2),” intro

From Shout! (1959), written by O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, and Rudolph Isley

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:07–0:23)

6) Chairlift, “Evident Utensil,” verse

From Does You Inspire You (2008), written by Patrick Wimberly, Caroline Polachek & Aaron Pfenning

Audio: YouTube (0:05–0:25)

C Am
The most evident utensil,

C Am
Is non other then a pencil,

C Am
Not a multi-colored stencil,

C Am
Or a camera and crew.

7) Lizzo, “Truth Hurts,” chorus

From Cuz I Love You (2019), written by Mina Lioness, Ricky Reed, jesse saint john, Tele & Lizzo

Audio: YouTube (0:36–1:01)

C Am

Why men great 'til they gotta be great?

C Am

Don't text me, tell it straight to my face

C Am

Best friend sat me down in the salon chair

C Am

Shampoo press, get you out of my hair

C Am

Fresh photos with the bomb lighting

C Am

New man on the Minnesota Vikings

C Am

Truth hurts, needed something more exciting

C Am

Bom bom bi dom bi dum bum bay

More Examples

The NYU Chord Progression spreadsheet includes additional examples of shuttles for aural ID. (See the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet).
Philip Tagg, Everyday Tonality: See the tables of examples in Chapter 12: Chord Shuttles on pp. 374, 376–77, 383–85, and 389.