Hearing I-IV-V Progressions on Guitar
Train your ear to hear I, IV, and V as home, away, and tension so you can follow more songs by sound.
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Key terms in this lesson
Helpful terms for this lesson. Hover or tap a term if you want a quick definition.
I-IV-V is the fastest way to hear how chords pull. Once you hear home, away, and tension, progressions stop sounding random.
Try this
G → C → D → G
Strum one downstrum per chord. Keep the loop steady and say the words out loud.
Say home, away, tension, home with the strum.
Stop on the tense chord
Hold the V chord for one extra beat. Let your ear want the I chord before you play it.
Apply it
G → C → D
Play G, C, then stop on D. Wait one beat, then play G and hear the landing.
Variation
A → D → E → A
Play the same loop in A. Use the same words and check that the feeling stays the same.
Hear the same pull with new chord names.
When you hear these three sounds, it gets easier to follow songs by ear.
Analyzer
Loop G, C, D, G. Stop on D for one extra beat, then let G land.
Open in analyzer