In
music
Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
, I–IV–V–I or IV–V–I is a
chord progression
In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in Western musical tradition from the common practice ...
and
cadence
In Western musical theory, a cadence (Latin ''cadentia'', "a falling") is the end of a phrase in which the melody or harmony creates a sense of full or partial resolution, especially in music of the 16th century onwards.Don Michael Randel (1999) ...
that, "unequivocally defines the point of origin and the total system, the
key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
."
[ Jonas, Oswald (1982). ''Introduction to the Theory of ]Heinrich Schenker
Heinrich Schenker (19 June 1868 – 14 January 1935) was a Galician-born Austrian music theorist whose writings have had a profound influence on subsequent musical analysis. His approach, now termed Schenkerian analysis, was most fully exp ...
'' (1934: ''Das Wesen des musikalischen Kunstwerks: Eine Einführung in Die Lehre Heinrich Schenkers''), p. 23. Trans. John Rothgeb. . Composers often begin pieces with this progression as an exposition of the
tonality
Tonality is the arrangement of pitches and/or chords of a musical work in a hierarchy of perceived relations, stabilities, attractions and directionality. In this hierarchy, the single pitch or triadic chord with the greatest stability is call ...
:
According to theorist
Oswald Jonas
Oswald Jonas (January 10, 1897 – March 19, 1978) was a music theorist and musicologist and student of Heinrich Schenker. Despite Schenker's conservative nationalist views Jonas was an admirer of Karl Kraus.
In 1935, Jonas founded the Schenker ...
, "
ong with motion toward the fifth (V), IV
he_subdominant.html"_;"title="subdominant.html"_;"title="he_subdominant">he_subdominant">subdominant.html"_;"title="he_subdominant">he_subdominantappears_as_a_corrective,_depriving_V_(the_dominant_(music).html" ;"title="subdominant">he_subdominant.html" ;"title="subdominant.html" ;"title="he subdominant">he subdominant">subdominant.html" ;"title="he subdominant">he subdominantappears as a corrective, depriving V (the dominant (music)">dominant) of its independence and pointing it back in the direction of its origin [I]."
In the
key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
of C, IV provides the note F and eliminates the possibility of G major, which requires F.
The progression is also often used at the
end of works and sections.
See also
*
Predominant chord
In music theory, a predominant chord (also pre-dominant) is any chord which normally resolves to a dominant chord.Benward & Saker (2009). ''Music in Theory and Practice: Volume II'', Glossary, p.359. Eighth Edition. . "Any chord in functional ...
*
Three-chord song
A three-chord song is a song whose music is built around three chords that are played in a certain sequence. A common type of three-chord song is the simple twelve-bar blues used in blues and rock and roll.
Typically, the three chords used are t ...
*
V–IV–I turnaround
In music, the V–IV–I turnaround, or blues turnaround, is one of several cadential patterns traditionally found in the twelve-bar blues, and commonly found in rock and roll.
The cadence moves from the tonic to dominant, to subdominant, and b ...
*
ii–V–I progression
The ii–V–I progression ("two–five–one progression") (occasionally referred to as ii–V–I turnaround, and ii–V–I) is a common cadential chord progression used in a wide variety of music genres, including jazz harmony. It is a succ ...
*
Ragtime progression
Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott J ...
Sources
Cadences
Chord progressions
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