The 1564 Chord Progression, Explained

If you need to learn one chord progression, it’s the 1564 chord progression.

This is, by far, the most popular chord progression in pop music. You’ll find it everywhere. And if you know how it works, you can unlock hundreds, if not thousands of songs. In any key!

In this lesson, we’ll run through what the 1564 progression is, why it’s important, how to use it, and which songs you can immediately start playing with this progression.

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WHAT IS THE 1564 CHORD PROGRESSION?

A chord progression is a series of chords that move a song forward. It is the basic harmonic structure of a song. Progressions build tension and then resolve it.

The 1564 chord progression is a very popular chord progression that moves through the I, V, vi, and IV chords of a key.

Some progressions are more popular than others. They underlie many songs, even if those songs sound totally different from each other. For example, the 251 (ii-V-I) progression is popular with jazz music.

Lots of songs use the 1564 progression. Songs like:

• “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis
• “Memories” by Maroon 5
• “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum
• “Let It Be” by the Beatles

What the Numbers Mean

> The Nashville Number System for Piano: A Beginner’s Guide

The number system is why we talk about progressions like “1564” and “251.”

In this system, each chord gets a number. The “1″ chord is a chord built on the first note of the scale. So, if we’re in C major, our 1 chord is the C major triad: C-E-G.

C Major Triad
(the “1” chord in C major)

Now let’s look at the “5” chord. The 5 chord is built on the fifth note of the C major scale, which is G. So, our 5 chord is a G major triad: G-B-D.

G Major Triad
(the “5” chord in C major)

The “6” chord is kind of special because it’s a minor chord! If we take the sixth note of the C major scale, A, and build a triad on it, we end up with Am.

A Minor Triad
(the “6” chord in C major)

Finally, we end on the “4” chord. Which, if you know the drill by now, is built on the fourth note of the C major scale, F. So we get an F major triad:

F Major Triad
(the “4” chord in C major)

These chords are all diatonic chords in the key of C major. Diatonic means these chords occur naturally in the C major scale and are built entirely out of notes in the C major scale. Which is why we don’t have any sharps or flats.

Knowing the diatonic chords of a scale is useful because they tell you what chords within a key sound good together.

Roman numerals are sometimes used in place of Arabic numbers because you can capitalize them to indicate a major chord and lowercase them to indicate a minor chord. In Roman numerals, the 1564 chord progression becomes:

I-V-vi-IV

HOW TO PRACTICE THE 1564 PROGRESSION

If you’re new to chording, practice playing the triad chord shapes. And instead of playing the four chords over and over, zero down on the transition between two chords. Practice moving between them and master that before moving on to the next transition.

If you know inversions, you can use them to take “shortcuts” between chords. Here are a few examples you can try.

I-V

Go from the root position of the I chord to the 1st inversion of the V chord. In C Major, this would be C-E-G to B-D-F. Here’s how it looks like with fingering:

V-vi

Because these two chords don’t share any notes in common, we suggest you go from 1st inversion of the V chord to the root position of the vi chord:

vi-IV

Finally, go from root position of the vi chord to 1st inversion of the IV chord with just the flick of a pinky:

If you’d like a deeper dive, take a look at our chord shortcuts lesson to learn more about transitions.

LEVEL UP YOUR 1564 CHORD PROGRESSION

> How to Make Your 1-5-6-4 Progression Less Boring (5 Levels)

Once you’ve got your pop progression down pat, it’s time to add a little personality.

Octaves

Octaves are a great way to add some extra “oomph” and depth. Playing octaves requires a bit of a stretch, but it’s easier if you position your fingers at the very edge of the keyboard. 

You can also roll into your octaves if playing both notes is too tricky at first.

Sus Rolls

An interesting way to spice up a chord progression is by using sus chords. A sus (“suspended”) chord is when you substitute the third in a triad for a second or fourth. 

We can create little fills by rolling from our second into our third. Like this:

If you’re new to sus chords, this may be challenging at first. You may want to try omitting the root note and roll from just your second finger (the sus note) to fingers 3 and 5 (the third and the fifth).

You don’t have to do this with every chord. Just use these sus rolls as an occasional decoration. Remember: when it comes to pop, less is more.

Broken Figures

Simply breaking up your chords can also make a big difference. Here’s a pattern you can try using the outer notes of the chords in second inversion:

SONGS THAT USE THE 1564 PROGRESSION

Tons of songs use the 1564 chord progression. And you can get a head start on some with these tutorials and tips:

Other Iconic Progressions

The 1-5-6-4 is just the tip of the iceberg. Other common, tried-and-true progressions you’ve no doubt heard include 50s (Doo-Wop) Progression and the Andalusian Cadence. Check them out!

> Top 10 Piano Chord Progressions

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