Three-chord rock and roll: I–IV–V–IV
Three chords, thousands of songs: the backbone of rock ’n’ roll, country and folk.
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.
Twist and Shout
The Beatles · 1963ChorusAs recorded, in D majorD – G – AOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Wild Thing
The Troggs · 1966VerseAs recorded, in A majorA – D – E – DOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Bad Moon Rising
Creedence Clearwater Revival · 1969VerseAs recorded, in D majorD – A7 – GOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash · 1963ChorusAs recorded, in G majorD7 – C – GOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Louie Louie
The Kingsmen · 1963ChorusAs recorded, in A majorA – D – Em – DOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Three Little Birds
Bob Marley & The Wailers · 1977VerseAs recorded, in A majorA – E – A – 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
I is home, IV moves away, V wants to go home. Those three functions are all a song needs, and on guitar they’re three of the easiest chords in any open key. Change the order, the rhythm or one chord and you get a different genre.
- 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 → GHold backIn the key
A 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.
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.
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 Three-chord rock and roll
Quick answers about temperaments, instruments, accuracy, and what actually runs on your Mac.
What is the three-chord trick?
Playing a song with just the I, IV and V chords of a key, such as G–C–D or A–D–E. Rock ’n’ roll, country and folk are full of it.Which keys are easiest on guitar?
G (G–C–D), D (D–G–A), A (A–D–E), C (C–F–G) and E (E–A–B). Use a capo to move them up for your voice.How is it different from the 12-bar blues?
The 12-bar blues uses the same three chords in a fixed twelve-bar order, usually as dominant sevenths.
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