Mandolin · Level 2 · First steps
The four-chord pop progression in C major on Mandolin
Don’t just read about The four-chord pop progression in C major. Play it.
Create a free TempoJam account in 30 seconds. Then try the tuner, metronome and Jam Room free for 14 days and record your first take tonight.
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.
C
Notes: C · E · G
G
Notes: G · B · D
Am
Notes: A · C · E
F
Notes: F · A · C
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: C, G, Am and F. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Mandolin frets are close together, so reach with the fingertips and press each pair of strings evenly.
- 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, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- 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.
C major has no sharps or flats; its relative minor key is A minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–V–vi–IV in C major?
In C major the progression is C | G | Am | F.
What is the key signature of C major?
C major has no sharps or flats. Its relative minor is A 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.
Start practising free