Royal road (J-pop) (IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi7)

A favorite in Japanese pop: it starts on IV and lands on vi via iii, so it keeps moving and rarely settles.

In C major

Open in the generator (rhythm, transpose, MIDI) →

In all 12 keys

Mode: major. The capo column shows the fret where most chords become easy open shapes.

Key	Chords	Capo
C major	Fmaj7 – G7 – Em7 – Am7	–
D♭ major	G♭maj7 – A♭7 – Fm7 – B♭m7	1.
D major	Gmaj7 – A7 – F♯m7 – Bm7	2.
E♭ major	A♭maj7 – B♭7 – Gm7 – Cm7	3.
E major	Amaj7 – B7 – G♯m7 – C♯m7	4.
F major	B♭maj7 – C7 – Am7 – Dm7	5.
F♯ major	Bmaj7 – C♯7 – A♯m7 – D♯m7	6.
G major	Cmaj7 – D7 – Bm7 – Em7	7.
A♭ major	D♭maj7 – E♭7 – Cm7 – Fm7	1.
A major	Dmaj7 – E7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7	2.
B♭ major	E♭maj7 – F7 – Dm7 – Gm7	3.
B major	Emaj7 – F♯7 – D♯m7 – G♯m7	4.

Similar progressions

Frequently asked questions

What are the chords of the Royal road (J-pop) in C major?

Fmaj7 – G7 – Em7 – Am7 (IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi7).

Which key is easiest on guitar?

With only open chords and no capo: C major. For other keys, the capo column in the table shows where to clamp it.

What do the Roman numerals mean?

The degrees of the key: I = tonic (1st degree), IV = 4th, V = 5th. Upper case is a major chord, lower case minor; ° means diminished, ø half-diminished and ♭ a lowered degree. That's what lets you move the progression to any key.

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