Pachelbel’s canon: I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V
Eight chords from a Baroque canon that turned up in Green Day, Pet Shop Boys and Maroon 5.
Loads it as a song you can change, extend and write lyrics to. Your own song is kept.
Songs you know
Where you’ve heard it
Real recordings that use it, with the chords as they’re played on the record and the easiest way to play along.
Canon in D
Johann PachelbelWhole songAs recorded, in D majorD – A – Bm – F♯m – G – D – G – AOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Basket Case
Green Day · 1994VerseAs recorded, in E♭ majorE♭ – B♭ – Cm – Gm – A♭Easier: capo 3, play C major shapesShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Go West
Pet Shop Boys · 1993Verse · ChorusAs recorded, in C majorC – G – Am – Em – FOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Memories
Maroon 5 · 2019VerseAs recorded, in B majorB – F♯ – G♯m – D♯m – EEasier: capo 4, play G major shapesShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Cryin'
Aerosmith · 1993VerseAs recorded, in A majorA – E – F♯m – C♯m – DOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Don't Look Back in Anger
Oasis · 1996Verse · ChorusAs recorded, in C majorC – G – Am – E – FOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Hook
Blues Traveler · 1994Verse · ChorusAs recorded, in A majorA – E – F♯m – C♯ – DOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →
Why it works
Why it feels like this
The bass walks down step by step (D, C♯, B, A, G, F♯, G, A) while the chords fall and rise in pairs. That slow descent sounds like a memory unfolding, and the final IV–V lifts it back to the start. Pop songs often take just the first five chords and loop them.
- D → ALift offIn the key
The bass jumps to the dominant. Tension starts to build and wants to come back.
- A → BmDeceptive turnIn the key
Your ear expects home, but the bass steps up to the relative minor instead. A bittersweet surprise.
- Bm → F♯mSink deeperIn the key
Bm and F♯m share one note (F♯), which keeps the move connected.
- F♯m → GLiftIn the key
F♯m and G share no notes, so the move sounds like a bold jump.
- G → DSoft returnHome
The “amen” move. There’s no leading tone, so D arrives gently instead of snapping shut.
- D → GOpen upIn the key
Home opens up: the bass climbs a fourth while one note stays, like taking a breath.
- G → ABuild tensionIn the key
Two neighbours a step apart. Pure forward motion: the tension rises and home feels close.
- A → DBright resolutionHome
A contains the key’s leading tone, which wants to rise a half step to D. It’s the strongest pull in music: a full stop.
Make it yours
Same idea, your song
The fastest way not to sound like everyone else: change one thing. Each idea opens in the Chord Map, ready to play.
The five-chord pop version
Keep the first half and loop it: how Green Day and Maroon 5 use it.
Try it →D – A – Bm – F♯m – GI–V–vi–iii–IVMake the iii major
The Oasis twist: the third chord turns major and pushes into the vi.
Try it →D – A – Bm – F♯ – G – D – G – AI–V–vi–III–IV–I–IV–VBorrow the minor iv
Make the IV minor. A bittersweet, cinematic sigh before you go home.
Try it →D – A – Bm – F♯m – G – Gm – D – AI–V–vi–iii–IV–iv–I–VAdd sevenths
Softer and jazzier: every chord gets one more note.
Try it →Dmaj7 – A – Bm7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – Dmaj7 – Gmaj7 – A7Imaj7–V–vi7–iii7–IVmaj7–Imaj7–IVmaj7–V7
On the guitar
In five guitar keys
The keys a guitar likes best. Pick the one that suits your voice, or put on a capo.
In C major
Open in the Chord Map →In G major
Open in the Chord Map →In D major
Open in the Chord Map →In A major
Open in the Chord Map →In E major
Open in the Chord Map →
Questions
Questions about Pachelbel’s canon
Quick answers about temperaments, instruments, accuracy, and what actually runs on your Mac.
What are the chords of Pachelbel’s Canon?
D–A–Bm–F♯m–G–D–G–A, that is I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V in D major.Which pop songs use the Canon progression?
Basket Case (Green Day), Go West (Pet Shop Boys), Memories (Maroon 5) and the verse of Cryin’ (Aerosmith), usually the first five chords looped.Why does Don’t Look Back in Anger sound different?
Oasis make the third chord major (III instead of iii): E instead of Em in C. That turns it into a push towards the vi.
Keep exploring