Banjo · Level 2 · First steps

The fifties progression on Banjo

I–vi–IV–V in all 12 keys.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

I–vi–IV–V is the doo-wop progression behind countless ballads. It mixes major and minor chords and loops smoothly back to the start.

Choose a key

C majorC · Am · F · GD♭ majorD♭ · B♭m · G♭ · A♭D majorD · Bm · G · AE♭ majorE♭ · Cm · A♭ · B♭E majorE · C♯m · A · BF majorF · Dm · B♭ · CF♯ majorF♯ · D♯m · B · C♯G majorG · Em · C · DA♭ majorA♭ · Fm · D♭ · E♭A majorA · F♯m · D · EB♭ majorB♭ · Gm · E♭ · FB majorB · G♯m · E · F♯

Listen first: C major

C

C major

Notes: C · E · G

gDGBD

Am

A minor

Notes: A · C · E

×gDGBD

F

F major

Notes: F · A · C

×gDGBD

G

G major

Notes: G · B · D

gDGBD
1
C
2
Am
3
F
4
G

Why it works

vi is the relative minor of I and shares two of its three notes, so the change sounds smooth.

On another instrument

The fifties progression on Guitar →The fifties progression on Piano →The fifties progression on Ukulele →The fifties progression on Mandolin →The fifties progression on Violin →The fifties progression on Flute →

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