Easy Guitar Songs With 4 Chords

4 chord song progressions

It's amazing what you can do with only four guitar chords. So amazing in fact that many artists have made their fortunes with songs using chord progressions with different combinations of just 4 easy guitar chords (see the huge list at bottom of article). There's even an Australian comedy group called Axis Of Awesome that uses these 4 chord progressions to play popular songs in their act. The chords in question are the I, IV, V and vi chords in any key.

Need a refresher on Roman Numerals for guitar chords?

Example I, IV, V, vi chord charts in the key of C Major

If you are viewing this page on a supported device, you can click or tap to have the guitar robot play the guitar chords below.

All 4 guitar chords in every key

In any key you can make chord progressions using the I, IV, V, vi chords. Here is the list of all guitar chords in every key.

C, F, G, Am
G, C, D, Em
D, G, A, Bm
A, D, E, F#m
E, A, B, C#m
B, E F#, G#m
F, Bb, C, Dm
Bb, Eb, F, Gm
Eb, Ab, Bb, Cm
Ab, Db, Eb, Fm
Db, Gb, Ab, Bbm
Gb, Cb, Db, Ebm

Get my Free Guitar Chords Chart or try my Guitar Chords app to find common shapes you can use to play the above chords.

About writing your own songs

When writing your own songs, you'll probably want to change the order in which you play the 4 chord progressions for each part of the song. Experiment with different ordering for verse, chorus, bridge and solo sections. Only you know what sounds good for your song. However don't be afraid to try new things. As an example, try different strumming patterns. You don't have to stay with just those four chords either. They are good as a base to springboard new ideas from but don't hesitate to use some other chords if your song needs it. Need help understanding song structure? Check my article on song structure basics.

Find chords in other keys

I frequently make new PDFs for tons of guitar chord charts. Try to find new and different shapes for the chords you want to play by exploring my guitar chords category.

Chord books

There are quite a few chord books dedicated to 4 chord songs too. Below are links to two 4 chord song books at Amazon.com. By learning other people's songs you'll gain valuable experience on how to structure the songs you write. I think a professionally written book by a well known publisher is your best bet too because so many Internet song/chord tabs are full of errors or incomplete. Anyway, below is couple books to get you started. (disclosure: these are affiliate links that help keep this site free)

List of popular songs that use the 4 chords

To give you some inspiration, I compiled a list of popular songs that use 4 chords.

"Let It Be" The Beatles I-V-vi-IV
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" John Denver I-V-vi-IV
"Tuesday's Gone" Lynyrd Skynyrd I-V-vi-IV
"No Woman, No Cry" Bob Marley I-V-vi-IV
"'39" Queen I-V-vi-IV
"Peace of Mind" Boston vi-IV-I-V
"So Lonely" The Police I-V-vi-IV
"Don't Stop Believin'" Journey I-V-vi-IV
"Down Under" Men at Work I-V-vi-IV
"Skulls" Misfits I-V-vi-IV
"Africa" Toto vi-IV-I-V
"Forever Young" Alphaville I-V-vi-IV
"Sleepwalking" Canton I-V-vi-IV
"Still Loving You" Scorpions vi-IV-I-V
"Take On Me" A-ha I-V-vi-IV
"Tonight She Comes" The Cars I-V-vi-IV
"Higher Love" Steve Winwood IV-I-V-vi
"Hearts of Olden Glory" Runrig 1987 vi-IV-I-V
"With or Without You" U2 1987 I-V-vi-IV
"Like a Prayer" Madonna 1989 IV-I-V-vi
"Right Here Waiting" Richard Marx 1989 I-V-vi-IV
"Fall at Your Feet" Crowded House I-V-vi-IV
"Once in a Lifetime" Gregorian I-V-vi-IV
"Little Baby Nothing" Manic Street Preachers I-V-vi-IV
"Please Play This Song on the Radio" NOFX I-V-vi-IV
"Under the Bridge" Red Hot Chili Peppers I-V-vi-IV
"Butterfly" The Pale I-V-vi-IV
"Cryin'" Aerosmith I-V-vi-IV
"When I Come Around" Green Day I-V-vi-IV
"Soul To Squeeze" Red Hot Chili Peppers vi-IV-I-V
"Today" The Smashing Pumpkins I-V-vi-IV
"Tears of the Dragon" Bruce Dickinson vi-IV-I-V
"Glycerine" Bush I-V-vi-IV
"Silverflame" Dizzy Mizz Lizzy vi-IV-I-V
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" Elton John I-V-vi-IV
"Farmhouse" Phish IV-I-V-vi
"Zombie" The Cranberries vi-IV-I-V
"Self Esteem" The Offspring vi-IV-I-V
"Con te partir" Andrea Bocelli I-V-vi-IV
"Good" Better Than Ezra I-V-vi-IV
"Baby Baby" Corona vi-IV-I-V
"Freedom" DJ BoBo vi-IV-I-V
"China Roses" Enya I-V-vi-IV
"One of Us" Joan Osborne vi-IV-I-V
"Hurt" Nine Inch Nails V-vi-IV-I
"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" The Smashing Pumpkins vi-IV-I-V
"Head over Feet" Alanis Morissette I-V-vi-IV
"Roses Are Red" Aqua vi-IV-I-V
"Hand in Hand" Dune vi-IV-I-V
"Acha" Khaled vi-IV-I-V
"All I Want" The Offspring vi-IV-I-V
"Dammit" Blink-182 I-V-vi-IV
"Love Is on the Way" Celine Dion I-V-vi-IV
"Save Tonight" Eagle Eye Cherry vi-IV-I-V
"Just Ace" Grinspoon I-V-vi-IV
"High" Lighthouse Family I-V-vi-IV
"Sex and Candy" Marcy Playground I-V-vi-IV
"Torn" Natalie Imbruglia I-V-vi-IV
"That Was a Crazy Game of Poker" O.A.R. vi-I-V-IV
"Building a Mystery" Sarah McLachlan vi-IV-I-V
"Black Widow" Children of Bodom vi-IV-I-V
"Life" Des'ree I-V-vi-IV
"Hands" Jewel vi-IV-I-V
"What's My Age Again?" Blink-182 I-V-vi-IV
"The Kids Aren't Alright" The Offspring vi-IV-I-V
"It's My Life" Bon Jovi vi-IV-I-V
"Two Story Town" Bon Jovi vi-IV-I-V
"I Hope You Dance" Lee Ann Womack vi-IV-I-V
"What About Now" Lonestar I-V-vi-IV
"Otherside" Red Hot Chili Peppers vi-IV-I-V
"The Rock Show" Blink-182 I-V-vi-IV; vi-IV-I-V
"Superman (It's Not Easy)" Five for Fighting vi-IV-I-V
"Crawling" Linkin Park vi-IV-I-V
"Suteki da ne" Rikki I-V-vi-IV
"Whenever, Wherever" Shakira vi-IV-I-V
"Fuck Her Gently" Tenacious D vi-IV-I-V
"Wherever You Will Go" The Calling I-V-vi-IV
"Complicated" Avril Lavigne vi-IV-I-V
"Don't Forget Me" Red Hot Chili Peppers vi-IV-I-V
"Electrical Storm" U2 vi-IV-I-V
"Feeling This" Blink-182 I-V-vi-IV
"What I Go to School For" Busted I-V-vi-IV
"Quelqu'un m'a dit" Carla Bruni I-V-vi-IV
"Numb" Linkin Park vi-IV-I-V
"Dragostea din tei" O-Zone IV-I-V-vi
"So Far Away" Staind vi-IV-I-V
"Where Is the Love?" The Black Eyed Peas I-V-vi-IV
"The Artist in the Ambulance" Thrice vi-I-V-IV
"Whiskey Girl" Toby Keith I-V-vi-IV
"Air Hostess" Busted I-V-vi-IV
"Miracle" Cascada vi-IV-I-V
"Taylor" Jack Johnson I-V-vi-IV
"Behind These Hazel Eyes" Kelly Clarkson vi-IV-I-V
"She Will Be Loved" Maroon 5 I-V-vi-IV
"Scar" Missy Higgins vi-IV-I-V
"Wagon Wheel" Old Crow Medicine Show I-V-vi-IV
"Run" Snow Patrol I-V-vi-IV
"Madre hay una sola Bersuit Vergarabat I-V-vi-IV
"In This River" Black Label Society vi-IV-I-V
"Hide and Seek" Imogen Heap I-V-vi-IV
"You're Beautiful" James Blunt vi-IV-I-V
"When God Made Me" Neil Young I-V-vi-IV
"Love and Memories" O.A.R. V-vi-IV-I
"Ever the Same" Rob Thomas I-V-vi-IV
"Pieces" Sum 41 vi-IV-I-V
"From Yesterday" Thirty Seconds to Mars I-V-vi-IV
"Fantasma" rbol I-V-vi-IV
"Don't Matter" Akon I-V-vi-IV
"Mardy Bum" Arctic Monkeys I-V-vi-IV-V
"Scenic World" Beirut I-V-vi-IV
"Where'd You Go" Fort Minor I-V-vi-IV
"Apologize" OneRepublic vi-IV-I-V
"U + Ur Hand" P!nk vi-IV-I-V
"Snow (Hey Oh)" Red Hot Chili Peppers I-V-vi-IV; vi-IV-I-V
"Gomenasai" t.A.T.u. vi-IV-I-V
"Canvas Bags" Tim Minchin vi-IV-I-V
"No One" Alicia Keys I-V-vi-IV
"Afterlife" Avenged Sevenfold I-V-vi-IV
"The Story" Brandi Carlile I-V-vi-IV
"This Is My Now" Jordin Sparks I-V-vi-IV
"Daybreak's Bell" L'Arc-en-Ciel I-V-vi-IV
"Happy Ending" Mika I-V-vi-IV
"Nobody's Perfect" Miley Cyrus vi-IV-I-V
"Stand" Rascal Flatts vi-IV-I-V
"Umbrella" Rihanna IV-I-V-vi
"Don't Trust Me" 3OH!3 vi-IV-I-V
"All I Ever Wanted" Basshunter vi-V-I-IV
"If I Were a Boy" Beyonc vi-IV-I-V
"This Is Me" Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas vi-IV-I-V
"I'm Yours" Jason Mraz I-V-vi-IV
"Hot n Cold" Katy Perry vi-IV-I-V
"Poker Face" Lady Gaga vi-IV-I-V
"Too Cool" Meaghan Jette Martin vi-IV-I-V
"You're Not Sorry" Taylor Swift vi-IV-I-V
"You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" The Offspring vi-IV-I-V
"Breakeven" The Script IV-I-V-vi
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" The Script vi-IV-I-V
"Pork and Beans" Weezer I-V-vi-IV
"Replay" Iyaz vi-IV-I-V
"In My Head" Jason Derlo vi-IV-I-V
"Down" Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne IV-I-V-vi
"Love Me" Justin Bieber vi-IV-I-V
"Already Gone" Kelly Clarkson I-V-vi-IV
"Paparazzi" Lady Gaga I-V-vi-IV
"Ave Mary A" P!nk I-V-vi-IV
"Nothing is Impossible" Planetshakers I-V-vi-IV
"Hey, Soul Sister" Train I-V-vi-IV
"Grenade" Bruno Mars vi-IV-I-V
"Enter the Ninja" Die Antwoord vi-IV-I-V
"Not Afraid" Eminem vi-IV-I-V
"Love the Way You Lie" Eminem feat. Rihanna vi-IV-I-V
"Don't You Wanna Stay" Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson I-V-vi-IV; vi-IV-I-V
"One Day" Matisyahu I-V-vi-IV
"Just a Dream" Nelly vi-IV-I-V
"Good Life" OneRepublic vi-IV-I-V
"Fuckin' Perfect" P!nk I-V-vi-IV
"The Island" Pendulum vi-IV-I-V
"Favorite Distraction" SuperSpy I-V-vi-IV
"Dynamite" Taio Cruz vi-IV-I-V
"Double Rainbow Song" The Gregory Brothers vi-IV-I-V
"For the First Time" The Script I-V-vi-IV; vi-IV-I-V
"If We Ever Meet Again" Timbaland feat. Katy Perry I-V-vi-IV
"Written in the Stars" Tinie Tempah vi-IV-I-V
"Someone like You" Adele I-V-vi-IV
"Kaze wa Fuiteiru" AKB48 vi-IV-I-V
"I Was Here" Beyonc vi-IV-I-V
"Brighter Than the Sun" Colbie Caillat vi-IV-I-V
"Paradise" Coldplay vi-IV-I-V
"Skyscraper" Demi Lovato vi-IV-I-V
"Lost in Paradise" Evanescence vi-IV-I-IV
"Bullet" Hollywood Undead I-V-vi-IV
"On the Floor" Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull vi-IV-I-V
"Price Tag" Jessie J I-V-vi-IV
"Who You Are" Jessie J vi-IV-I-V
"Hair" Lady Gaga I-V-vi-IV
"The Edge of Glory" Lady Gaga I-V-vi-IV
"Ai Se Eu Te Pego" Michel Tel I-V-vi-IV
"Little Talks" Of Monsters and Men vi-IV-I-V
"Bridge of Light" P!nk I-V-vi-IV; vi-IV-I-V
"International Love" Pitbull feat. Chris Brown vi-IV-I-V
"Give Me Everything" Pitbull feat. Ne-yo, Afrojack, and Nayer vi-IV-I-V
"California King Bed" Rihanna I-V-vi-IV
"We Found Love" Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris vi-IV-I-V
"Sparks Fly" Taylor Swift vi-IV-I-V
"I Just Had Sex" The Lonely Island feat. Akon vi-IV-I-V
"Jack Sparrow" The Lonely Island feat. Michael Bolton vi-IV-I-V
"Science & Faith" The Script vi-IV-I-V
"No Me Toca" Anselmo Ralph vi-IV-I-V
"Ready or Not" Bridgit Mendler vi-IV-I-V
"Raindrops" Cillo I-V-vi-IV
"Whistle" Flo Rida vi-IV-I-V
"Cruise" Florida Georgia Line I-V-vi-IV
"Demons" Imagine Dragons I-V-vi-IV
"Adagio in D Minor " John Murphy vi-IV-I-V
"Eu Quero Tchu, Eu Quero Tcha" Joo Lucas & Marcelo vi-IV-I-V
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" Kelly Clarkson vi-IV-I-V
"Come Over" Kenny Chesney vi-IV-I-V
"Rise" McClain Sisters vi-IV-I-V
"The Light Behind your Eyes" My Chemical Romance vi-I-IV-V
"When Can I See You Again?" Owl City I-V-vi-IV
"Good Time" Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen IV-I-V-vi
"All Too Well" Taylor Swift I-V-vi-IV
"Come Back... Be Here" Taylor Swift I-V-vi-IV
"Six Degrees of Separation" The Script vi-IV-I-V
"Hall of Fame" The Script feat. will.i.am vi-IV-I-V
"Drive By" Train IV-I-V-vi; vi-IV-I-V
"Say Something" A Great Big World vi-IV-I-V
"Uh...a song played with a nipple ring" Andrew Huang I-V-vi-IV
"Contact" Daft Punk vi-IV-I-V
"Heart Attack" Demi Lovato IV-I-V-vi
"Only Teardrops" Emmelie de Forest vi-IV-I-V
"Let It Go" Idina Menzel I-V-vi-IV
"All of Me" John Legend vi-IV-I-V
"Unconditionally" Katy Perry vi-IV-I-V
"Wrecking Ball" Miley Cyrus I-V-vi-IV
"Boomerang" Nicole Scherzinger I-V-vi-IV
"Let Her Go" Passenger IV-I-V-vi
"Song for Zula" Phosphorescent I-V-vi-IV
"Walks Like Rihanna" The Wanted I-V-vi-IV
"Cliche Love Song" Basim I-V-vi-IV
"The Last Goodbye" Billy Boyd vi-IV-I-V
"All of the Stars" Ed Sheeran I-V-vi-IV
"Bailando" Enrique Iglesias vi-IV-I-V
"Forever" Kari Jobe I-V-vi-IV
"Final Masquerade" Linkin Park IV-I-V-vi
"Flashlight" Jessie J I-V-vi-IV
"Are You With Me" Lost Frequencies vi-IV-I-V
"El Perdn (Forgiveness)" Nicky Jam ft Enrique Iglesias vi-IV-I-V
"Coming for You" The Offspring vi-IV-I-V