I–IV–V–I
Chord progression / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In music, I–IV–V–I or IV–V–I is a chord progression and cadence that, "unequivocally defines the point of origin and the total system, the key."[1] Composers often begin pieces with this progression as an exposition of the tonality:[1]
According to theorist Oswald Jonas, "[a]long with motion toward the fifth (V), IV [the subdominant] appears as a corrective, depriving V (the dominant) of its independence and pointing it back in the direction of its origin [I]."[1] In the key of C, IV provides the note F♮ and eliminates the possibility of G major, which requires F♯.[1] The progression is also often used at the end of works and sections.[1]
A popular variant is vi–IV–V–I, commonly known as the "Komuro progression" (小室進行, komuro shinkō), namesake of Tetsuya Komuro who popularised the progression.[2]