Piano · Level 2 · First steps
The four-chord pop progression in D major on Piano
Don’t just read about The four-chord pop progression in D 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.
D
Notes: D · F♯ · A
A
Notes: A · C♯ · E
Bm
Notes: B · D · F♯
G
Notes: G · B · D
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: D, A, Bm and G. 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.
D major has 2 sharps; its relative minor key is B minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–V–vi–IV in D major?
In D major the progression is D | A | Bm | G.
What is the key signature of D major?
D major has 2 sharps. Its relative minor is B 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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