Can You Name These Three Famous Chords?

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger once said rock’n'roll is “energy and three chords.” Country music’s Hal Ketchum said country music is “three chords and truth.”

Which three chords do you suppose they are talking about? If you’re a guitarist, you might say, “E, A and B,” or A, D, and E,” or maybe “G, C, and D.” If you play keyboard, you might say, “C, F, and G.”

The Primary Triads

As you may know already, all of those answers are right. The “three chords” depend on what key you’re playing in. In music theory, we call these chords the primary triads. They are the structural foundation of much music, regardless of style.

The primary triads are the tonic, subdominant and dominant triads (I, IV, & V). In this music theory lesson, we’ll learn the three most basic chord progressions using only the primary triads. From here, we’ll branch out to some really sophisticated harmony.

I implore you, learn to play these basic progressions in every major and minor key. Even if you don’t play the keyboard, I encourage you to find one and learn to play them with the prescribed voice leading. You can do it! It just takes practice. You can download every progression in this lesson, written out in every major and minor key, on the Harmonic Progressions page.

The primary-triad chord progressions are a foundational step to understanding some of the most complex harmonies. If you can play them in every key, or at least the most common keys, the rest of harmony and all of music theory becomes much easier!

I-V-I and I-IV-I Harmonic Progressions

The examples below show the chord progressions in C major and A minor. We’ve already learned the voice leading for these progressions: both are progression by fifth. Review this music theory lesson if needed.

I-V-I (i-V-i)

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I-IV-I (i-iv-i)

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I-IV-V-I

The I-IV-V-I chord progression uses all three primary triads. Remember, going from IV to V is a progression by 2nd: move the upper voices in contrary motion to the bass.

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The video below demonstrates the I-IV-V-I progression in C major with three different right-hand (SAT) positions. Watch the video several times, then practice playing the progression on the keyboard in all the major and minor keys. You can download this harmonic progression on the Harmonic Progressions page. You should strive, however, to play this progression in every key without looking at the music.

As you learn these progressions, try to hear them in the music you listen to, whether it be rock, country, classical, calypso, or Australian pub rock! It doesn’t matter. These triads are a fundamental part of most musical styles. Hearing and understanding harmony go hand-in-hand. This is the way to truly understand chord progressions and voice leading, and it will help you immensely in composing and improvising. (Click anywhere on the video to pause it.)

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Harmony Table of Contents

Lessons Table of Contents