Three-chord punk (I5 – I5 – IV5 – V5)
Power chords (root + fifth, no third) on the three primary degrees. On a distorted guitar they sound the cleanest.
In C major
In all 12 keys
Mode: major. The capo column shows the fret where most chords become easy open shapes.
| Key | Chords | Capo |
|---|---|---|
| C major | C5 – C5 – F5 – G5 | 3. |
| D♭ major | D♭5 – D♭5 – G♭5 – A♭5 | 4. |
| D major | D5 – D5 – G5 – A5 | 5. |
| E♭ major | E♭5 – E♭5 – A♭5 – B♭5 | 6. |
| E major | E5 – E5 – A5 – B5 | 7. |
| F major | F5 – F5 – B♭5 – C5 | 1. |
| F♯ major | F♯5 – F♯5 – B5 – C♯5 | 2. |
| G major | G5 – G5 – C5 – D5 | 3. |
| A♭ major | A♭5 – A♭5 – D♭5 – E♭5 | 4. |
| A major | A5 – A5 – D5 – E5 | – |
| B♭ major | B♭5 – B♭5 – E♭5 – F5 | 1. |
| B major | B5 – B5 – E5 – F♯5 | 2. |
Similar progressions
All chord progressions
- Pop progression (Axis)
- Sensitive pop (vi–IV–I–V)
- ’50s progression (doo-wop)
- Royal road (J-pop)
- Canon progression
- Circle-of-fifths progression
- Authentic cadence (I–IV–V–I)
- Folk and country
- ii–V–I (jazz)
- Turnaround (I–vi–ii–V)
- Minor ii–V–i
- 12-bar blues
- 12-bar blues, quick change
- Three-chord punk
- Mixolydian rock (I–♭VII–IV)
- ♭VI–♭VII–I (victory cadence)
- Andalusian cadence
- Epic minor (i–VI–III–VII)
- Minor cadence (i–iv–V–i)
- Minor ballad (i–VII–VI–VII)
- Dorian vamp (i–IV)
- Major-to-minor IV (I–iii–IV–iv)
Frequently asked questions
What are the chords of the Three-chord punk in C major?
C5 – C5 – F5 – G5 (I5 – I5 – IV5 – V5).
Which key is easiest on guitar?
With only open chords and no capo: A 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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