Guitar · Level 2 · First steps
The four-chord pop progression in E♭ major on Guitar
Don’t just read about The four-chord pop progression in E♭ major. Play it.
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I–V–vi–IV is the most-used progression in modern pop. Once it is comfortable in one key you can play along with a large share of the charts.
E♭
Notes: E♭ · G · B♭
B♭
Notes: B♭ · D · F
Cm
Notes: C · E♭ · G
A♭
Notes: A♭ · C · E♭
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: E♭, B♭, Cm and A♭. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Press just behind the fret with your fingertips and keep the thumb relaxed behind the neck.
- Set the tempo to 48 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Loop the four bars without a pause between the last chord and the first.
- Strum down on every beat at first, then try down–down–up–up–down–up.
- Raise the tempo to 64 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a steady pulse across the loop point.
Listen for
Aim for a steady pulse across the loop point. A common mistake is accenting the first bar so much that the loop sounds like it restarts.
Why it works
Starting on I and ending on IV leaves the phrase slightly open, which invites the loop to repeat.
E♭ major has 3 flats; its relative minor key is C minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–V–vi–IV in E♭ major?
In E♭ major the progression is E♭ | B♭ | Cm | A♭.
What is the key signature of E♭ major?
E♭ major has 3 flats. Its relative minor is C minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 2 lesson (first steps). If it feels too hard, start with “The fifties progression”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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