Piano · Level 2 · First steps
The four-chord pop progression in B major on Piano
Don’t just read about The four-chord pop progression in B 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.
B
Notes: B · D♯ · F♯
F♯
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯
G♯m
Notes: G♯ · B · D♯
E
Notes: E · G♯ · B
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: B, F♯, G♯m and E. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Keep the right hand curved over the keys and move it as one unit between chords.
- 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.
- Play the left-hand bass note on beat one and the right-hand chord on every beat.
- 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.
B major has 5 sharps; its relative minor key is G♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–V–vi–IV in B major?
In B major the progression is B | F♯ | G♯m | E.
What is the key signature of B major?
B major has 5 sharps. Its relative minor is G♯ 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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