Backing Tracks:
Loops from Pop Repertoire (see the "adding vi" category)
1) Lady Gaga, “The Edge of Glory,” chorus
From Born this Way (2011), words and music Stefani Germanotta, Fernando Garibay, Paul Blair
Audio: YouTube (1:02–1:37)
A E
I'm on the edge of glory
F#m D
And I'm hangin' on a moment of truth
A E
Out on the edge of glory
F#m D
And I'm hangin' on a moment with you
A E
I'm on the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge
F#m D
The edge, the edge, the edge
A E
I'm on the edge of glory
F#m D
And I'm hangin' on a moment with you
A
I'm on the edge with you
C G/B Am F
I remember when we used to sit
C G/B
In the government yard in
Am F
trenchtown
C G/B Am F
Observing the hypocrites
C G/B
Mingle with the good people we
Am F
meet
C G/B
Good friends we had
Am F
Good friends we lost
C G/B F Am
Along the way
C G/B
In this bright future
Am F
You can't forget your past
C G/B Am F
So dry your tears I say
C G
And she will be loved
Am F
She will be loved
C G
And she will be loved
Am F
And she will be loved
E B
Just a small town girl
C#m A
living in a lonely world
E B
She took the midnight train
C#m A
going anywhere
E B
Just a city boy
C#m A
born and raised in South Detroit
E B
He took the midnight train going
C#m A
anywhere
C G Am
No one no one no one
F
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
C G Am
No one no one no one
F
Can get in the way of what I feel for
C G Am
you... you... you...
F
Can get in the way of what I feel for
C
you
8) Brandie Carlile, “The Story,” verse 1
From The Story (2007), written by Brandi Carlile
Audio: YouTube (0:09–0:50)
C
All of these lines across my face
G7
tell you the story of who I am
Am
So many stories of where I've been
F
and how I got to where I am
C G7
But these stories don't mean anything,
Am F
when you've got no one to tell them to
C G7 C
It's true, I was made for you
9) Diego Torres, “Un Poquito,” verse 1
From Atlántico a Pie (2021), written by Diego Torres, Jorge Luis Chacín, JonTheProducer, Yadam González, Oscar Hernández, Andrés Castro & Carlos Vives
Audio: YouTube (0:18–0:40)
Instructor Note: | I | V | vi | IV | (x2)
A E
No está de moda enamorarse
F#m
Ya nadie quiere ser sincero
D
Pero en ti yo encuentro Todo,
A
todo, todo lo que quiero
E
De febrero hasta febrero
F#m
Medellín o Buenos Aires
D
Cierro los ojos y pensarte
A
Se me ha vuelto inevitable
I V
No está de moda enamorarse
vi
Ya nadie quiere ser sincero
IV
Pero en ti yo encuentro Todo,
I
todo, todo lo que quiero
V
De febrero hasta febrero
vi
Medellín o Buenos Aires
IV
Cierro los ojos y pensarte
I
Se me ha vuelto inevitable
10) Ed Sheeran (ft. YEBBA), “Best Part of Me,” verse 2
From Collaborations Projects No. 6(2019), written Ed Sheeran, Benny Blanco, Joe Rubel
Audio: YouTube (1:44–2:18)
D Asus4 Bm7 Gadd9
I overthink and still forgive
D Asus4 Bm7 Gadd9
I lose my phone and place my bets
D Asus4 Bm7 Gadd9 D
And I never catch the train on time, always 30 minutes behind
Asus4 Bm7 Gadd9
Your worries ain't seen nothin' yet
11) The Rolling Stones, “Beast of Burden,” verse 1
From Some Girls (1978), written Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Audio: YouTube (0:39–0:57)
E B C#m A E B C#m A
I'll never be your beast of burden My back is broad but it's a hurting
E B C#m A E B C#m A
All I want is for you to make love to me
E B C#m A E B C#m A
I'll never be your beast of burden My back is broad but it's a hurting
E B C#m A E B C#m A
All I want is for you to make love to me
This includes rotations of the Axis progression or minor variants of the pattern.
1) Rihanna, “Umbrella,” chorus
From Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), words and music Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, Kuk Harrell, Shawn Carter
Audio: YouTube (0:56–1:18)
G♭
When the sun shines
D♭
We’ll shine together
A♭
Told you I'll be here forever
B♭m
Said I'll always be your friend
(B♭m) G♭
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end
D♭
Now that it's raining more than ever
A♭
Know that we still have each other
Bbm
You can stand under my umbrella
G♭
You can stand under my umbrella
2) Beyonce, “If I Were a Boy,” verse
From I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008), words and music by Brittany Jean Carlson
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:42)
3) Justin Bieber, “Ghost,” verse
From Justice (2021), written by Michael Pollack, Stefan Johnson, Jordan K. Johnson, Jon Bellion & Justin Bieber
Audio: YouTube (0:13–0:31)
Bm G D A
Youngblood thinks there's always tomorrow
Bm G D A
I miss your touch on nights when I'm hollow
Bm G D A
I know you crossed the bridge that I can't follow
4) AJR, “I'm Not Famous,” pre-chorus and chorus
From The Click (2017), written by Ryan Met, Jack Met & Adam Met
Audio: YouTube (0:41–1:06)
[Pre-Chorus]
C Dm B♭ F
Paparazzi is at an all time low
C Dm B♭ F
Paparazzi, they don't care where I go
[Chorus]
C Dm
Where my haters, where my haters
B♭ F
I don't got 'em, I'm not famous, no
C Dm B♭ F
C Dm
It don't matter what my name is
B♭ F
I don't got one, I'm not famous, no
5) One Republic, “Kids,” chorus
From Oh My My (2016), written by Brandon Collins, Steve Wilmot, Brent Kutzle & Ryan Tedder
Audio: YouTube (1:15–1:35)
G
Back when we were kids
Am F C
Swore we would never die
G
You and me were kids
Am F C
Swear that we’ll never die
Em C
I was here...
G D
I lived, I loved
Em C
I was here...
G D Em C
I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
G D Em
And it was more than I thought it would be
C G D
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
Em C
I was here...
7) Olivia Rodrigo & Joshua Bassett, “I Think I Kinda, You Know,” verse
From High School Musical (2020), written by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner
Audio: YouTube (0:07–0:40)
Csus2 G/B
So much has happened, think of what we've done
Am7 Fsus2
In the time that the Earth has traveled 'round the Sun
Csus2 G/B
Winter, spring, summer an' we're back to fall
Am7 Fsus2
We've been together hand-in-hand through it all
Csus2 G/B
From the minute we kissed and my heart skipped a beat
Am7 Fsus2
To the night that we danced, I was swept off my feet
Csus2 G/B
Sure as every year has to come to an end
Am7 Fsus2
I'd go spinnin' 'round the Sun with you again and again and again and again
8) Mau y Ricky, “La Boca,” chorus
From Para Aventuras y Curiosidades (2019), written by Ricky Montaner, Mau Montaner, Tainy, Morelli, JonTheProducer & Camilo
Audio: YouTube (0:40–1:02)
Bm G D A
Que me muero por besarte la boca, mamá
Bm G D A
Hace tiempo que mi sueño e' volverla a probar
Bm G D A
porque bailas como nadie más sabe bailar
Bm G D A
Te pareces a la playa y las olas del mar.
9) Eminem (ft. Rihanna), “Love the Way You Lie,” chorus
From Recovery (2010), written by Skylar Grey, Eminem & Alex da Kid
Audio: YouTube (1:08–1:43)
Em C
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn,
G D
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts.
Em C
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry,
G D
But that's alright because I love the way you lie,
Em C
I love the way you lie
G D
I love the way you lie
10) Nightwish, “Amaranth,” chorus
From Dark Passion Play (2007), written by Tuomas Holopainen
Audio: YouTube (1:11–1:27)
Note: The schema repeats until the last two chords.
Dm B♭ F C Dm
Caress the one, the Never-Fading rain in your heart
B♭ F C
The tears of snow-white sorrow
Dm B♭ F
Caress the one, the hiding amaranth
C B♭ E♭
In a land of the daybreak
11) Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Don't Forget Me," verse
From By the Way (2002), written by Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante & Chad Smith
Audio: YouTube (0:15–0:47)
A5 F5
I'm an ocean in your bedroom
C5 G5
Make you feel warm, make you wanna resume
A5 F5 C5 G5
Now we know it all for sure
A5 F5
I'm a dance hall, dirty breakbeat
C5 G5 A5
Make the snow fall up from underneath your feet
F5 C5 G5 A5
Not alone, I'll be there, tell me when you want to go
1) P!nk, "Who Knew," chorus
From I'm Not Dead (2006), written by Dr. Luke, Max Martin & P!nk
Audio: YouTube (0:47–1:23)
D E F#m7 A
If someone said three years from now you'd be long gone,
D E F#m7 A
I'd stand up and punch them out, cuz they're all wrong . . .
Dsus2 E F#m7 A
I know better, cuz you said forever,
Dsus2 E A
and ever . . . Who knew?
2) Taylor Swift, "Love Story - You Belong with Me"
From Fearless (2008), written by Liz Rose & Taylor Swift
Audio: YouTube (0:47–1:23)
Student Note: The pre-chorus and chorus use different schemas. Identify each.
[Pre-Chorus]
G A
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
Bm D
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
G
And I was crying on the staircase
A Bm G A
Begging you please don't go, and I said
[Chorus]
D
Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
A
I'll be waiting all there's left to do is run
Bm
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
G A D
It's a love story baby just say "yes"
3) Counting Crows, "Round Here," chorus
From August and Everything After (1993), written by Chris Roldan, Dan Jewett, Dave Janusko, David Bryson, Adam Duritz
Audio: YouTube (2:01–2:33)
C D Em G
Round here we're carving out our names
C D Em G
Round here we all look the same
C D
Round here we talk just like lions
Em G
But we sacrifice like lambs
4) Katy Perry, "E. T.," chorus
From Teenage Dream (2010), written by Katy Perry, Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Ammo
Audio: YouTube (1:39–2:07)
D♭ E♭
Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me
Fm A♭
Infect me with your love and fill me with your poison
D♭ E♭
Take me, ta-ta-take me
Fm A♭
Wanna be your victim, ready for abduction
D♭ E♭
Boy, you're an alien
Fm A♭ D♭
Your touch, so foreign
E♭ Fm
It's supernatural
A♭
Extraterrestrial
5) Zedd, "Stay the Night," verse
From Clarity (2013), Zedd, Benjamin Eli Hanna, Hayley Williams, Carah Faye
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:30)
D♭
I know that we are upside down
E♭ Fm A♭
So hold your tongue and hear me out
D♭
I know that we were made to break
E♭ Fm A♭
So what? I don't mind
D♭
You kill the lights, I'll draw the blinds
E♭ Fm A♭
Don't dull the sparkle in your eyes
D♭
I know that we were made to break
E♭ Fm A♭
So what? I don't mind
6) Lana Del Rey, "Young and Beautiful," chorus
From The Great Catsby: Music from Baz Luhrman's Film (2013), written by Rick Nowels & Lana Del Rey
Audio: YouTube (0:48–1:24)
G
Will you still love me
A Bm D
when I'm no longer young and beautiful
G
Will you still love me
A Bm D
when I got nothing but my aching soul
G A
I know you will, I know you will
Bm D
I know that you will
G
Will you still love me
A Bm
when I'm no longer beautiful
7) Rosé and Bruno Mars, “APT.,” chorus
Single (2024), written by Amy Allen, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Christopher "Brody" Brown, Henry Walter, Michael Chapman, Nicholas Chinn, Omer Fedi, Phillip Lawrence, Rogét Chahayed, Theron Thomas
2) Marvin Gaye, “Let's Get It On,” verse
From Let's Get it On (1973), written by Ed Townsend & Marvin Gaye
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:23)
E♭ Gm7 A♭ B♭7
I've been really tryin', baby;
E♭ Gm7 A♭ B♭7
Tryin to hold back these feelings, for so long.
E♭ Gm7 A♭ B♭7
And if you feel, like I feel, baby;
E♭ Gm7 A♭ B♭7
Come on, oh, come on; woo!
3) All-4-One, “I Can Love You Like That,” verse
From And the Music Speaks (1995), written by Maribeth Derry, Steve Diamond, and Jennifer Kimball
Audio: YouTube (0:23–0:45)
A
They read you Cinderella,
C#m
You hoped it would come true,
D
That one day your prince charming,
E
would come, rescue you.
A
You like romantic movies,
C#m
You never could forget,
D
The way you felt when romeo kissed
E
Juliet
5) David Lee Garza y Los Musicales, “Me Vuelvo A Enamorar,” verse 1
From Nadie como yo (2009), written by George Soto
Audio: YouTube (0:20–0:42)
Instructor Note:
| I iii | IV V7 | (x2)
G Bm C D7
A medias de la noche me desperté
G Bm C D7
por la ansiedad de verte me desvelé
G Bm C D7
como puede uno lograr
G Dm C D7
tanto amor de esa calidad
7) David Bowie, “Changes,” verse
From Hunky Dory (1971), written by David Bowie
Audio: YouTube (0:20–0:38)
C Em7
Still don't know what I was waiting for
F G F
And my time was running wild
F
A million dead-end streets and
C Em7
Every time I thought I'd got it made
F G
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
9) Cher, “Believe,” verse
From Believe (1998), written by Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennen, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Matthew Gray, Timothy Powell, and Cher
Audio: YouTube (0:29–0:58)
Note: See the second phrase
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.
F
It's so sad that you're leavin',
Am
it takes time to believe it.
B♭ C
But after all is said and done,
you're gonna be the lonely one, oh...
2) Lana Del Rey, “Get Free,” verse
From Lust for Life (2017), written by Kieron Menzies, Rick Nowels & Lana Del Rey
Audio: YouTube (0:02–0:46)
B♭ D
Finally, I'm crossing the threshold
E♭ E♭m
From the ordinary world, to the reveal of my heart
B♭ D
Undoubtedly, that will for certain
E♭ E♭m
Take the dead out of the sea, and the darkness from the arts
4) The Jayhawks, “Blue,” chorus
From Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995), written by Mark Olson & Gary Louris
Audio: YouTube (0:47–1:07)
E G#
So Blue
A B
Why don't you stay behind
E G#
So Blue
A F# F#m
Why don't you stop and look at what's going down
5) Janelle Monaé, “Crazy Classic Life,” chorus
From Dirty Computer (2018), written by Chuck Lightning, Nate “Rocket” Wonder, Janelle Monáe
Audio: YouTube (1:16–1:36)
G A E
I want a crazy, classic, life
G A E
I want a crazy, classic, life
G A C#m
So if the world should end tonight
G A E
I want a crazy, classic, life
7) Brandi Carlile, “The Joke,” chorus, phrase 2
From By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), written by Tim Hanseroth, Phil Hanseroth, Dave Cobb & Brandi Carlile
Audio: YouTube (1:38–1:54)
Harmonic Rhythm: | D | F# | G | Gm | D |
D F# G
I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends
Gm D
And the joke's on them
2) Alanis Morissette, “Head Over Feet,” chorus
From Jagged Little Pill (1995)
Audio: YouTube (0:35–0:53)
D Bm G A
You've already won me over, in spite of me
D Bm B♭ A
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
D Bm G A
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
3) Go West, “King of Wishful Thinking,” verse
From Indian Summer (1992), written by Peter Cox, Richard Drummie & Martin Page
Audio: YouTube (0:29–0:47)
Am F G C
I don't need, to fall at your feet
Am F G C
Just cause you cut me to the bone
Am F G C
And I won't miss, the way that you kiss me
Am F G C
We were never carved in stone
4) Lady Gaga, “Million Reasons,” verse
From Joanne (2016), written by Hillary Lindsey, Mark Ronson, Lady Gaga
Audio: YouTube (0:13–0:45)
C
You're giving me a million reasons to let you go
Am
You're giving me a million reasons to quit the show
F
You're givin' me a million reasons
Give me a million reasons
G
Givin' me a million reasons
About a million reasons
C
If I had a highway, I would run for the hills
Am
If you could find a dryway, I'd forever be still
F
But you're giving me a million reasons
Give me a million reasons
G
Givin' me a million reasons
About a million reasons
5) Sam Cooke, “Wonderful World,” verse
From The Wonderful world of Sam Cooke (1960), written by Sam Cooke, Lou Adler & Herb Alpert
Audio: YouTube (0:03–0:19)
G Em
Don't know much about history,
C D
Don't know much biology.
G Em
Don't know much about a science book,
C D
Don't know much about the French I took.
6) Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You,” chorus
From the film, The Bodyguard (1992), written by Dolly Parton
Audio: YouTube (1:46–2:10)
A F#m D E
And I________ will always
A F#m D E A
Love you, you, I, will always love you
7) Taylor Swift, “The Best Day,” verse, chorus
From Fearless (2008), written by Taylor Swift
Audio: YouTube (0:46–1:18)
Note: The chorus uses the standard form of the schema. The chorus uses a variation. How is the progression varied?
[Verse]
D♭ B♭m
I'm five years old
G♭ A♭
It's getting cold, got my big coat on
D♭ B♭m
I hear your laugh
G♭ A♭
And look up at smilin at you, I run and run
D♭ B♭m
Past the pumpkin patch
G♭ A♭
And the tractor rides, Look now, the sky is gold
D♭ B♭m
I hug your legs
G♭ A♭
And fall asleep on the way home
[Chorus]
G♭ A♭ D♭ Fm/C B♭m
I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
G♭ A♭ D♭ Fm/C B♭m
But I know you're not scared of anything at all
G♭ A♭ D♭ Fm/C B♭m
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
G♭ A♭ D♭
But I know I had the best day with you today
1) Green Day, “Give Me Novacaine,” verse
From American Idiot (2004), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool
Audio: YouTube (0:17–0:43)
A F#m
Take away the sensation inside
Bm E
Bittersweet migraine in my head
A F#m
It's like a throbbing toothache of the mind
Bm E
I can't take this feeling anymore
2) Real McCoy, “Another Night,” chorus
From Another Night (Remixes) - EP (1993), written by Frank “Quickmix” Hassas, Olaf “O-Jay” Jeglitza & Jürgen Wind
Audio: YouTube (0:21–0:37)
Am Dm G C
Another night, another dream, but always you,
Am Dm G C
Its like a vision of love that seems to be true,
Am Dm G C
Another night another dream, but always you,
Am Dm G C
In the night I dream of love so true.
1) The Beatles, “Eight Days a Week,” verse
From Beatles for Sale (1964), written by Paul McCartney & John Lennon
Audio: YouTube (0:05–0:20)
Harmonic Rhythm: | D | E7 | G | D | (x2)
D E7
Ooh I need your love babe
G D
Guess you know it's true
D E7
Hope you need my love babe
G D
Just like I need you
2) CeeLo Green, “Forget You,” verse
From Beatles for Sale (1964), written by Paul McCartney & John Lennon
Audio: YouTube (0:13–0:45)
Note: All section except the bridge repeat this same chord progression.
Harmonic Rhythm: | C | D7 | F | C | (x4)
C D7
I see you driving round town with the girl I love
F C
And I'm like "Forget you!" Ooo ooo ooo
C D7
I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough
F C
And I'm like "Forget you, and forget her too."
C D7
If I was richer, I'd still be with ya
F C
Now ain't that something (Ain't that something)
C D7
And though there's pain in my chest I still wish you the best
F C
With a "Forget you"
3) Ben Folds, “Rockin' The Suburbs,” verse
From Rockin' The Suburbs (2001), written by Ben Folds
Audio: YouTube (0:59–1:21)
Note: Everything up until the final chorus repeats the same progression.
Harmonic Rhythm: | D | F C | (x4)
D F C
I'm rocking the suburbs, just like Michael Jackson did,
D F C
I'm rocking the suburbs, except that he was talen-ted.
D F C
I'm rocking the suburbs; take the cheques and face the facts,
D F [C]
That some producer with computers, fixes all my shitty tracks.
4) AURORA, “Conqueror,” chorus
From All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend (2016), written by Geir Luedy, Magnus Skylstad, Odd Martin, AURORA
Audio: YouTube (0:29–0:50)
Harmonic Rhythm: | C | D | F | C | (x2)
C D
I've been looking for the conqueror
F C
But you don't seem to come my way
C D
I've been looking for the only one
F C
But you don't seem to come my way
[Verse 1]
E F#
My boy, come take my hand
A E F
Throw your guitar and your clothes in the back seat
E F#
My love, they don't understand
A E G#m
But I'll hold your hurt in the box here beside me
[Chorus]
E F#
F*** up, anxious, too much
A E
But I'll love you like you need me to
F E
Imperfect for you
E F#
Messy, completely distressed
A E
But I'm not like that since I met you
F E
Imperfect for you
6) The Beatles, “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” verse 1
From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon
Audio: YouTube (0:21–0:42)
Harmonic Rhythm: | G7 A7 | C7 G7 | (x2)
| A7 | C7 | G7 C7 | G7 |
G7 A7
It was twenty years ago today
C7 G7
Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play
G7 A7
They've been going in and out of style
C7 G7
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile
A7
So may I introduce to you
C7
The act you've known for all these years
G7 C7 G7
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band
1) Lana Del Rey, “Lust for Life,” chorus
From Lust for Life (2017), written Max Martin, The Weekend, Rick Nowels & Lana Del Rey
Audio: mp3
A♭
And our lust for life, and our lust for life
B♭
And our lust for life, and our lust for life
Cm
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
A♭
And our lust for life, and our lust for life
B♭
And our lust for life, and our lust for life
Cm
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
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.