Embedded Files
Descending 4ths (Plagal Movement)
Descending 4ths (Plagal Movement)
Double Plagal (♭VII–IV–I)
Double Plagal (♭VII–IV–I)
Backing Track:
1) David Bowie, “Conversation Piece”
From Toy (2000)
Audio: YouTube (0:44–1:03)
Harmonic Rhythm:
. . . G | F C | G |F C | G |
G F
I can't see the road
C G
for the rain in my eyes
F C G
Ahhh . . . . .
2) Guns n’ Roses, “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” verse
From Appetite for Destruction (1987)
Audio: YouTube (0:27–1:00)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| D | C | G | D | (x2)
D
She's got a smile that it seems to me
C
Reminds me of childhood memories
G
Where everything
D
Was as fresh as a bright blue sky
D
Now and then when I see her face
C
She takes me away to that special place
G
And if I stared too long
D
I'd probably break down and cry
7) The Beatles, “Hey Jude,” outro
From Hey Jude (1970)
Audio: YouTube (3:08–7:05)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| D | C | G | D | (x3)
D C G D
Na na na na na na na na na na na, hey Jude
D C G D
Na na na na na na na na na na na, hey Jude
D C G D
Na na na na na na na na na na na, hey Jude (. . . )
8) The Rolling Stones, “Sympathy for the Devil,” verse
From Beggars Banquet (1968), written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Audio: YouTube (0:20–0:55)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| E | D | A | E | (x3)
E D
Please allow me to introduce myself
A E
I'm a man of wealth and taste
E D
I've been around for a long, long year
A E
Stole many a man's soul and faith
E D
And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
A E
Had his moment of doubt and pain
D
Made damn sure that Pilate
A E
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
9) Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain,” chorus
From 21 (2011), written by Fraser T. Smith & Adele
Audio: YouTube (0:58–1:18)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm | Dm | C | C|
| Gm7 | Gm7 | Dm | C |
Dm
But I set fire to the rain,
C
Watch it pour as I touched your face,
Gm7
Well, it burned while I cried,
Dm
Cause I heard it screaming out your name,
C
your name
10) Creedence Clearwater Revival, “The Fortunate Son,” verse
From Willy and the Poor Boys (1969), written by John Fogerty
Audio: YouTube (0:18–0:33)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G | F | C | G | (x2)
G F
Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
C G
Ooh, that red, white and blue
G F
And when the band plays "hail to the chief",
C G
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord!
[Verse 2]
E♭ B♭m Fm7
Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks. Gonna -
E♭ B♭m Fm7
come back and take you home, I could not stop that you now know - singing
E♭ B♭m Fm7
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities. Am I -
E♭ B♭m Fm7
A part of the cure, or am I a part of the disease? Singing...
[Bridge]
G♭maj7 D♭ A♭6
And nothing else compares
G♭maj7 D♭ A♭6
Oh, nothing else compares
G♭maj7 D♭ A♭6
And nothing else compares
14) The Beatles, “With a Little Help from My Friends,” chorus
From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon
Audio: YouTube (0:24–0:38)
Harmonic Rhythm: | D A | E | (x2)
| A | E | B7 | B7 |
D A E
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,
D A
Hmm, I get high with a little help
E
from my friends,
A E
Hmm, gonna try with a little help
E B7
from my friends.
Extended Plagal Movement
Extended Plagal Movement
Progressions with longer plagal movement, including progressions from ♭VI –♭III –♭VII– IV – I.
1) Jimi Hendrix, “Hey Joe,” chorus
From Are You Experienced (1967), written by Billy Roberts
Audio: YouTube (0:24–1:10)
Harmonic Rhythm: | C G |D A | E | E | (x4)
C G D A E
Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
C G D A E
Hey Joe, I said where you goin’ with that gun in your hand,
C G
I’m goin’ down to shoot my old lady,
D A E
You know I caught her messin’ ‘round with another man.
C G
I’m goin’ down to shoot my old lady
D A E
You know I caught her messin’ ‘round with another man
Huh! And that ain’t too cool.
2) Rocky Horror Show, “The Time Warp,” chorus
From The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), written by Richard O'Brien
and Richard Hartley
Audio: YouTube (0:44–0:54)
Harmonic Rhythm: | F C | G D | A | A | (x2)
F C G D A
Let's do the Time Warp again!
F C G D A
Let's do the Time Warp again!
3) Alanis Morrisette, “Head over Feet,” chorus, phrase 2
From Jagged Little Pill (1995), written by Alanis Morisette and Glen Ballard
Audio: YouTube (3:23–3:30)
Harmonic Rhythm: | F C | G | D|
F C
I couldn't help it
G
It's all your fault
D
You've already won
5) Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain,” verse
From 21 (2011), written by Fraser T. Smith & Adele
Audio: YouTube (0:07–0:43)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| Dm | F | C | Gm |
| Dm | F | C | C | (x2)
Dm F
I let it fall, my heart,
C Gm
And as it fell you rose to claim it.
Dm F
It was dark and I was over,
C Csus(add2)
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me
Dm F
My hands they're strong,
C Gm
but my knees were far too weak,
Dm F/A
Stand in your arms
C Csus(add2)
without falling to your feet,
6) Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You),” chorus
From Stronger (2011), written by Ali Tamposi, Greg Kurstin, David Gamson & Jörgen Elofsson
Audio: YouTube (0:41–1:17)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| Am | F | C| G/B | (x4)
Am
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
F
Stand a little taller
C
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
G/B Am
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
F
Footsteps even lighter
C G/B
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone
(G/B) Am
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,
F C
stronger, Just me, myself and I
G/B Am
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
F
Stand a little taller
C G/B
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
7) Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” verse
From American Idiot (2004), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool
Audio: YouTube (0:35–0:50)
Harmonic Rhythm: | Em G | D A | (x2)
Em G
I walk a lonely road,
D A Em
the only one that I have ever known
G
Don't know where it goes,
D A Em
but it's home to me and I walk alone
11) Dasha, “Austin (Boots Stop Workin'),” chorus
From What Happens Now? (2024), written by Adam Wendler, Chey Rose, Dasha & Travis Heidelman
Audio: YouTube (0:49–1:25)
Harmonic Rhythm:
|A-|A-|F|F|C|C|G|G| (x2)
Am
Did your boots stop working? Did your truck break down?
F
Did you burn through money? Did your ex find out?
C
Where there's a will then there's a way
And I'm d*mn sure you lost it
G
Didn't even say goodbye, just wish I knew what caused it
Am
Was the whiskey flowing? Were you in a fight?
F
Did the nerves come get you? What's your alibi?
C
I made my way back to L.A. and that's where you'll be forgotten
G
In 40 years you'll still be here, drunk washed up in Austin
12) Lana Del Rey, “Radio,” chorus
From Born to Die (2012), written by Lana Del Rey & Justin Parker
Audio: YouTube (0:44–1:10)
Harmonic Rhythm: | G | D | A | Em | (x2)
G
Now my life is sweet like cinnamon
D
Like a fucking dream I'm livin' in
A Em
Baby love me cause I'm playing on the radio.
G
Pick me up and take me like a vitamin.
D A
'Cause my body's sweet like sugar venom. Oh yeah.
Em
Baby love me cause I'm playing on the radio.
Other Plagal Movement
Other Plagal Movement
Descending Fifths
Descending Fifths
Some part of the sequence: iii - vi - ii - V - I or I - IV - ♭VII
Sharp Side 5ths
Sharp Side 5ths
(Part of the iii - vi - ii - V - I sequence of chords)
7) Queen, “Don't Stop Me Now,” verse 1
From Jazz (1978), written by Brian May & Freddie Mercury
Audio: mp3
Harmonic Rhythm: | F | Am | Dm | Gm | C |
| F | Am | Dm | Gm | C | F |
F Am Dm
I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky, like a tiger
Gm C
Defying the laws of gravity
F Am Dm
I’m a racing car passing by, like Lady Godiva
Gm C F
I’m gonna go, go, go, there’s no stopping me
8) Dan Hill, “Sometimes When We Touch,” verse
From Longer Fuse (1977), written by Dan Hill
Audio: YouTube (0:12–0:29)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| C | F/C | G/C | C | Em | Am | D | G |
C F/C G/C C
You ask me if I love you and I choke on my reply
Em Am D G
I'd rather hurt you honestly than mislead you with a lie
11) Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso,” chorus
From Short n' Sweet (2025), written by Sabrina Carpenter, Julian Bunetta, Amy Allen & Steph
Audio: YouTube (0:08–0:28)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm7 | Em7 Am7| (x4)
Dm7 Em7
Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh
Am7 Dm7
Is it that sweet? I guess so
Em7
Say you can't sleep, baby, I know
Am7 Dm7
That's that me, espresso
Em7
Move it up, down, left, right, oh
Am7 Dm7
Switch it up like Nintendo
Em7
Say you can't sleep, baby, I know
Am7
That's that me, espresso
16) Nichkhun, “Lucky Charm,” verse 1
From Me (2019), words and music by HotSauce & Nichkhun
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7| Gmaj7 | (x3)Audio: YouTube (0:15–1:00)
Am7 D7 Gmaj7
I hope I didn’t wake you up while
Am7 D7
Sneaking away to make you
Gmaj7
Some breakfast in bed
With your favorite bowl of charms
Am7 D7
I can’t help but stare
Gmaj7
In your pajamas
And soft light on your shoulders
Am7 D7
I wanna dive into your dreams
Gmaj7
Get inside. Together we’ll...
Flat Side 5ths
Flat Side 5ths
(Part of the I - IV - ♭VII sequence of chords)
1) Fiona Apple, “Paper Bag,” chorus
From When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts... (1999), written by Fiona Apple
Audio: YouTube (0:49–1:17)
G Cmaj7 F#11 G
Hunger hurts, and I want him so bad, oh it kills
Cmaj7 F9#11
'Cause I know I'm a mess he don't wanna clean up
G Cmaj7 F9#11 G
I got to fold 'cause these hands are too shaky to hold
Em7 A7
Hunger hurts, but starving works,
F7 G
when it costs too much to love
2) Katy Perry, “Lost,” verse
From One of the Boys (2008), written by Katy Perry & Ted Bruner
Audio: YouTube (0:15–0:26)
Harmonic Rhythm: | C | F B♭ | (x2)
C F B♭
I'm out on my own again,
C F B♭
Face down in the porcelain.
3) The Kinks, “Lola,” verse
From Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One + Percy (2014), written by Ray Davies
Audio: YouTube (0:05–0:37)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| E | E | A | D |
| E | E | A | A |
| E | E | A | D | (x2)
| C | C D | E | E |
E
I met her in a club down in old Soho
A
where you drink champagne and it
D E
tastes just like Coca Cola
A
C-O-L-A, cola
E
She walked up to me and
she asked me to dance
A
I asked her her name and in a
D E
dark brown voice she said Lola
A D C D E
L-O-L-A, Lola, Lo lo lo lo lola
4) Gordon Lightfoot, “Sundown,” chorus
From Songbook (1999), written by Gordon Lightfoot
Audio: YouTube (0:27–0:46)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| E | A | D | E | (x2)
E A
Sundown ya better take care
D E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs
E A
Sundown ya better take care
D E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs
5) Rihanna, “Shut Up and Drive,” chorus
From Good Girl Gon eBad (2007), written by Gillian Gilbert, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Evan Rogers & Carl Sturken
Audio: YouTube (1:07–0:46)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| E B | C# | F# B | C# | (x4)
E B C#
Getcha where you wanna go if you know what I mean
F# B C#
Got a ride that's smoother than a limousine
E B C#
Can you handle the curves? can you run all the lights?
F# B C#
If you can baby boy, then we can go all night
E B C#
Cause it's zero to sixty in three-point-five
F# B [C#]
Baby you got the keys
E B C#
Now shut up and drive, drive, drive, drive
F# B C#
Shut up and drive, drive, drive, drive
6) The White Stripes, “Doorbell,” chorus
From Get Behind Me Satan (2005), written by Jack White
Audio: YouTube (1:15–1:34)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| F B♭| E♭ F E♭ | (x3)
F B♭
I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
E♭
When ya gonna ring it,
F E♭
when ya gonna ring it?
(x3)
7) Fanny, “Blind Alley,” verse 1
From Fanny Hill (1972), written by Alice de Buhr & Nickey Barclay
Audio: YouTube (0:42–0:57)
Note: Focus on the highlighted section.
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G | G F . . | G | G F . . |
| G | G F . . | G | G |
| C | F B♭. . | C | F | (x2)
| G | G | D B♭| C |
G F G F
Take care of yourself, this is your story
G F
Your voice is shakin' the walls,
G
and they're crumbling down
C F B♭
But what can I do
C F
except stand here watching you
C F B♭
My fearful eyes are paralyzed
C F G
with visions of tomorrows swept away
D B♭ C
And someone's gonna get burned
8) Susana Baca, “Maria Lando,” refrain
From Afro-Peruvian Classics: The Soul of Black Peru (1995), written by Chabuca Granda
Audio: YouTube (3:56–4:35)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Bm | G7 | F# | F# |
| Em7 | A7 | D∆7 | D∆7 |
| G7 | C#7 | F# | F# |
| G | C#7 | F#7 | F#7 |Class worksheet: Student Copy
Em A7 D G F#7
María no tiene tiempo (María Landó)
María has no time (María Landó)
Bm
De alzar los ojos
To lift her eyes.
Em A7 D G F#7
María de alzar los ojos (María Landó)
María, to lift her eyes (María Landó)
Bm
Rotos de sueño
Broken from sleep.
Em A7 D G F#7
María rotos de sueño (María Landó)
María, broken from sleep (María Landó)
Bm
De andar sufriendo
From walking in suffering.
Em A7 D G F#7
María de andar sufriendo (María Landó)
María, from walking in suffering (María Landó)
Bm
Sólo trabaja
She only works,
Em A7 D G F#7 Bm
María sólo trabaja, sólo trabaja, sólo trabaja
María only works, only works, only works.
Em A7 D G C#m7 F#7
María sólo trabaja, Y su trabajo es ajeno
María only works, And her work belongs to others
More Examples
More Examples
Rosenberg, From Rock Music to Theory Pedagogy, Appendix C (includes a list of popular music using I-V-vi-IV and vi-IV-I-V)
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Harmonic Progressions" tab at the bottom.
Scott Lipscomb, "12 -Bar Blues Songs," History and Styles of Rock
Scott Lipscomb, Songs with the "I-vi-IV-V Progression," History and Styles of Rock
See the list of examples of the Doo-Wop Progression on Wikipedia here.
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