Learn › The 1-4-5 (minor) Chord Progression (i-iv-V-i)
New Released in April 2026
The 1-4-5 (minor) Chord Progression (i-iv-V-i)
The 1-4-5 (minor) chord progression (i-iv-V-i) in C is Am – Dm – E – Am. Like the basic minor progression, but the major V pulls harder back home. Below it is written out in all 12 keys, for piano and guitar.
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- MIDI keyboard
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- Guitar
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The 1-4-5 (minor) progression in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords |
|---|---|
| C minor | Cm – Fm – G – Cm |
| C sharp minor | C#m – F#m – G# – C#m |
| D minor | Dm – Gm – A – Dm |
| E flat minor | Ebm – Abm – Bb – Ebm |
| E minor | Em – Am – B – Em |
| F minor | Fm – Bbm – C – Fm |
| F sharp minor | F#m – Bm – C# – F#m |
| G minor | Gm – Cm – D – Gm |
| G sharp minor | G#m – C#m – D# – G#m |
| A minor | Am – Dm – E – Am |
| B flat minor | Bbm – Ebm – F – Bbm |
| B minor | Bm – Em – F# – Bm |
How 1-4-5 (minor) looks on the keys
Pick the nearest shape of each chord: most fingers stay where they are.
How to practise the 1-4-5 (minor) progression
- Play it in C, four slow beats per chord, saying each name.
- Move it to G and F, then to keys with more black keys.
- Repeat until the changes need no thought, then go faster.
Make 1-4-5 (minor) automatic
In ChordRunner you can loop Am – Dm – E – Am, or the same progression in any key, until it is automatic (advanced feature in ChordRunner Premium). MIDI keyboard or microphone.
Play the demoCommon questions
What is the 1-4-5 (minor) chord progression?
It is the chords built on degrees i-iv-V-i of a key. In C: Am – Dm – E – Am; in G: Em – Am – B – Em.
How do I play 1-4-5 (minor) on piano and guitar?
Find the key, take its chords i-iv-V-i, and use the nearest shape of each chord. On guitar, Am – Dm – E – Am uses easy shapes in C.
Can I loop the 1-4-5 (minor) 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 (minor)?
On the piano, A minor: its chords use 1 black keys in total. The hardest is E flat minor, with 9. 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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