All of the examples below use a chord loop that includes only root-position I, IV, and V chords.
See the spreadsheet here (the I, IV, V tab) for additional examples of pop songs using only I, IV, and V.
Backing Tracks for Improvisation & Warmup: See the I, IV, V Chord Loops from Pop Repertoire here.
See examples on the Chord Shuttles page. For an extensive list of examples, see the Chord Progression spreadsheet here (tabs "I, V" and "I, IV" at the bottom).
6) The Moody Blues, “Your Wildest Dreams,” verse
From The Other Side of Life (1986), written by Justin Hayward
Audio: YouTube (0:45–0:59)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G | C | D | D | (x2)
G C D
Once upon a time, once when you were mine,
G C D7
I remember skies, reflected in your eyes.
8) Blondie, “The Tide is High,” chorus
From Autoamerican (1980), written by Tyrone Evans, Howard Barrett, John Holt
Audio: YouTube (0:37–0:57)
Harmonic Rhythm: | A | D E | (x4)
A D E A D E
The Tide is high but I'm holdin' on, I'm gonna be your number one.
A D E A D E
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
9) Deep Blue Something, “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” chorus
From 11th Song (1993), written Todd Pipes
Audio: YouTube (0:42–1:08)
Harmonic Rhythm: | D | G A | (x4)
D A G
And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffanys?
D A G
She said I think I remember the film
D A G
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it
D A G
And I said, well that's the one thing we've got
10) The Beach Boys, “Don't Worry Baby,” verse 1
From Shut Down Volume 2 (1964), written by Roger Christian & Brian Wilson
Audio: YouTube (0:18–0:33)
Harmonic Rhythm: | D | D | G | A | (x2)
D
Well it's been building up inside of me
G A
for oh, I don't know how long
D
I don't know why, but I keep thinkin'
G A
somethin's bound to go wrong
11) Selena, “Como La Flor,” verse 1
From Baila Esta Cumbia (1992), written by Pete Astudillo & A.B. Quintanilla III
Audio: YouTube (0:15–0:37)
Harmonic Rhythm: | A D | E | (x4)
A D
Yo sé que tienes
E
un nuevo amor
A
Sin embargo
D E
te deseo lo mejor
A D
Si en mí no encontraste
E
felicidad
A D
Tal vez alguien más
E
te la dará
12) The Beatles, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” verse
From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Audio: YouTube (0:50–1:07)
Harmonic Rhythm: | G C | D7 | (x3)
G C D7
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
G C D7
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
G C D7
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Ah...
13) Brandi Carlile, “You and Me On the Rock,” chorus
From In These Silent Days (2022), written by Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings
Audio: YouTube (0:33–1:02)
Harmonic Rhythm:
|C | D | G | C |
|C | D | G | C | D | D G|
C
I'll build my house up on this rock, baby
D
Every day with you
G
There's nothin' in that town I need
C
After everything we've been through
C
Me out in my garden
D
And you out on your walk
G
Is all the distance this poor girl can take
C
Without listenin' to you talk
D
I don't need their money, baby
D G
Just you and me on the rock
15) Cher, “Believe,” verse
From Believe (1998), written by Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennen, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Matthew Gray, Timothy Powell, and Cher
Audio: YouTube (0:29–0:42)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| F | F | F | F | B♭ | B♭ | C | C |
F
No matter how hard I try,
you keep pushing me aside
B♭
and I can't break through,
C
there's no talking to you.
16) Susana Baca, “Maria Lando,” verse
From Afro-Peruvian Classics: The Soul of Black Peru (1995), written by Chabuca Granda
Audio: YouTube (0:45–1:01)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Bm . Em | Em F#. | (x4)
Bm Em F# Bm Bm Em F# Bm
La madrugada estalla como una estatua
Dawn explodes like a statue,
Bm Em F# Bm Bm Em F# Bm
Como estatua de alas que se dispersan por la ciudad
Like a statue of wings that scatter through the city.
3) Fleetwood Mac, “Go Your Own Way”
From Rumous (1977), written by Lindsey Buckingham
Audio: YouTube (0:03–0:33)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| F | F | F | C |
| B♭ | B♭ | B♭ | F | (x2)
F C Bb
Loving you, isn't the right thing to do?
Bb F
How can I, ever change things that I feel?
F C Bb
If I could, maybe I'd give you my world
Bb F
How can I, when you won't take it from me?
4) Deep Blue Something, “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” verse 1
From 11th Song (1993), written Todd Pipes
Audio: YouTube (0:07–0:25)
Harmonic Rhythm: | D | A G | (x4)
D
You'll say
G A D
We've got nothing in common
G A D
No common ground to start from
G A D G A
And we're falling apart
5) Creedence Clearwater Revival, “The Fortunate Son,” refrain
From Willy and the Poor Boys (1969), written by John Fogerty
Audio: YouTube (0:32–0:47)
Harmonic Rhythm: | G | D | C | G | (x2)
G D C G
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son
G D C G
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no
1) Tom Petty, “Free Fallin',” chorus
From Full Moon Fever (1989), written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne
Audio: YouTube (1:05–1:15)
Harmonic Rhythm: | F B♭ | F C | (x2)
F B♭ F C
And I'm free
F B♭ F C
Free fallin'
2) Deep Purple, “Hush,” pre-chorus
From Shades of Deep Purple (1968), written by Joe South
Audio: YouTube (1:22–1:40)
Harmonic Rhythm: | C | F B♭ F | (x4)
C F B♭ F
Hush, hush, thought I heard her calling my name now
C F B♭ F
Hush, hush, she broke my heart but I love her just the same now
C F B♭ F
Hush, hush, thought I heard her calling my name now
C F B♭ F
Hush, hush, I need you love but I'm not to blame now
3) Carmen Goett , “La Llorona,” verse 1
From Postales (2022). Based on a traditional Latin American folk song.
Audio: YouTube (0:56–1:21)
Harmoncic Rhythm:
| F#m | Bm | F#m | C# | (x2)
F#m Bm
Ay, de mí llorona, llorona
Ah, woe is me, weeping woman, weeping woman
F#m C#
llorona de azul celeste
weeping woman of celestial blue
F#m Bm
Ay, de mí llorona, llorona
Ah, woe is me, weeping woman, weeping woman
F#m C#
llorona de azul celeste
weeping woman of celestial blue
1) Sheryl Crow, “The First Cut is the Deepest,” chorus
From The Very Best of Sheryl Crow (2003), written by Cat Stevens
Audio (chorus): YouTube (0:43–1:08)
Harmonic Rhythm:
Verse: | D A | G A | (x4) | D G | A|
Chorus:| D A7sus | G A | (x4)
[Verse]
D A G A
I would have given you all of my heart
D A G A
But there's someone who's torn it apart
D A G A
And he's taken just all that I had
D A G A
But if you want, I'll try to love again
D G A5
Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know
[Chorus]
D A7sus G A
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
D A7sus G A
The first cut is the deepest
D A7sus G A
'cause when it comes to being lucky he's cursed
D A G A
when it comes to lovin' me he's the worst
2) Neutral Milk Hotel, “Holland 1945,” verse 1
From In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998), written by Jeff Mangum
Audio: YouTube (0:14–0:49)
C G
The only girl I've ever loved
C G
Was born with roses in her eyes
C G
But then they buried her alive
D C
One evening nineteen-forty-five
D G
With just her sister at her side
D C
And only weeks before the guns
D G
All came and rained on everyone
D C
Now she's a little boy in Spain
D G
Playing pianos filled with flames
D C
On empty rings around the sun
D C G
All sing to say my dream has come
1) The Troggs, “Wild Thing,” verse
From From Nowhere (1966), written by Chip Taylor
Audio: YouTube (0:07–0:26)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| A D | E D | (x4)
A D E D A D E
Wild thing . . .you make my heart sing . . .
D A D
You make everything
E D
Groovy
A D E
wild thing . . .
2) The Rolling Stones, “Get Off Of My Cloud,” verse
From L.A. Friday (1975), written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Audio: YouTube (0:10–0:41)
Harmonic Rhythm: | E A | B A | (x8)
E A B A E A B A
I live in an apartment on the ninety-ninth floor of my block
E A
And I sit at home looking out the window
B A E A B A
Imagining the world has stopped
E A B A E A B A
Then in flies a guy who's all dressed up like a union jack
E A B A E A B A
And says, I've won five pounds if I have his kind of detergent pack
3) Juice Newton, “Angel of the Morning,” verse
From Juice (1981), written by Chip Taylor
Audio: YouTube (0:16–0:39)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| B♭ E♭ | F E♭ | (x4)
Bb Eb F
There'll be no strings to bind your hands
Eb Bb Eb F Eb
Not if my love can't bind your heart
Bb Eb F
There's no need to take a stand
Eb Bb Eb F Eb
For it was I who chose to start
Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Predominant
Diverse Music Theory Examples: Tonic/Subdominant/Dominant, First Inversion Chords (I, IV, ii, V), Supertonic and the Submediant
Music By Women: Explore the Database (Click on the Chords & Harmonies Filter on the left and select Predominant Triads - ii and IV)
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the “Harmonic Progressions” tab at the bottom.