Country chord progressions
I–IV–V
- Nashville numbers
- 1 – 4 – 5
- In G major
- G – C – D
- Style
- Classic country, bluegrass, honky-tonk
I–IV–I–V
- Nashville numbers
- 1 – 4 – 1 – 5
- In G major
- G – C – G – D
- Style
- Two-step and singalong verses
I–V–vi–IV
- Nashville numbers
- 1 – 5 – 6m – 4
- In G major
- G – D – Em – C
- Style
- Modern country and country-pop
I–vi–IV–V
- Nashville numbers
- 1 – 6m – 4 – 5
- In G major
- G – Em – C – D
- Style
- Sweet, nostalgic ballads
I–IV–vi–V
- Nashville numbers
- 1 – 4 – 6m – 5
- In G major
- G – C – Em – D
- Style
- Heartfelt choruses
IV–I–V–vi
- Nashville numbers
- 4 – 1 – 5 – 6m
- In G major
- C – G – D – Em
- Style
- Anthemic, open-road chorus
The Nashville number system
Nashville session players write chords as numbers of the scale: 1 is the key's home chord, 4 and 5 are the other major chords, and 6m is the relative minor. A chart reading 1–4–1–5 is G–C–G–D in G and D–G–D–A in D, so a band can change key for a singer without rewriting anything. Roman numerals mean the same thing; Nashville charts just use plain digits.
Making it sound country
- Guitar keys: G, C, D, A and E let you use open chords; a capo moves them to suit the singer.
- Boom-chick rhythm: bass note on the beat, strummed chord on the offbeat, with the bass alternating between root and fifth.
- Walk-ups and walk-downs: step the bass through the scale into the next chord (G–A–B–C into the 4).
- A II7 before the V: an A7 before D in G major (a secondary dominant) is a classic country colour you can add by hand.
- Clean, twangy tone: a bright clean amp with light compression. Stack has a Country Twang Clean preset.
Play any of these in our free chord progression generator: pick Pop or Rock / Indie, press play, then hum a melody and it re-harmonises around you.
More chord progressions
Chord progressions by genre and mood: jazz, gospel, neo-soul, rock, house, trap and hip-hop, minor, sad, happy, dark, emotional, beautiful, R&B, EDM and piano. To learn why they work, read how to write a hit song.