Learn › The 1-4-5 Chord Progression (I-IV-V-I)
New Released in April 2026
The 1-4-5 Chord Progression (I-IV-V-I)
1-4-5 means chords I-IV-V-I of the key: in C that is C – F – G – C. Three chords, the backbone of rock and folk. Here it is in every key, ready to play.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
1-4-5 chord progression chart
| Key | Chords |
|---|---|
| C major | C – F – G – C |
| D flat major | Db – Gb – Ab – Db |
| D major | D – G – A – D |
| E flat major | Eb – Ab – Bb – Eb |
| E major | E – A – B – E |
| F major | F – Bb – C – F |
| F sharp major | F# – B – C# – F# |
| G major | G – C – D – G |
| A flat major | Ab – Db – Eb – Ab |
| A major | A – D – E – A |
| B flat major | Bb – Eb – F – Bb |
| B major | B – E – F# – B |
1-4-5 in C major on the piano
Each chord uses the shape nearest to the one before, so the hand barely moves.
1-4-5 exercises
- Start in C: four beats per chord, name each one out loud.
- Then take it to G and F, and on to the harder keys.
- Loop it until you stop looking at your hands, then speed up.
Loop 1-4-5 in ChordRunner
Type C – F – G – C into ChordRunner and it loops while you play it on a MIDI keyboard, or a piano or guitar by microphone (advanced feature in ChordRunner Premium).
Play the demoCommon questions
What is the 1-4-5 chord progression?
It is the chords built on degrees I-IV-V-I of a key. In C: C – F – G – C; in G: G – C – D – G.
How do I play 1-4-5 on piano and guitar?
Find the key, take its chords I-IV-V-I, and use the nearest shape of each chord. On guitar, C – F – G – C uses easy shapes in C.
Can I loop the 1-4-5 progression while I practise?
Yes. In ChordRunner you type a progression and it loops while you play on a USB MIDI keyboard, or a piano or guitar through the microphone (advanced feature in ChordRunner Premium).
Which key is easiest for 1-4-5?
On the piano, C major: its chords use 0 black keys in total. The hardest is F sharp major, with 10. Start easy, then move to the others.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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