So a few of my friends got Guitars for Christmas and I’ve been asked what’s a great first lesson? What song should I learn? What chords do I try first?

Four numbers: 1 5 6 4 or I V vi IV

These numbers represent the most common pop chord progression. Knowing how to play it will unlock hundreds of songs. Well maybe about forty, according to this great YouTube clip: Axis of Awesome 4 Chords.

If you want to learn this chord progression quickly without knowing any theory, learn this:

Play that progression along with the video above and you’ll be your own Karaoke machine in no time.

Now for the Theory:

A Chord Progression is just a fancy way of saying a sequence of chords. The numbers or roman numerals mentioned above represent the root note of a chord in a specific key. Below you will find the Diatonic Scale, most easily recognizable and understandable by looking at the Piano Keys:

Major Chords = Root + Major 3rd(3 half steps) + Minor 3rd(2 half steps)

C Chord = C E G — Note: There’s 3 half steps between C & E; there’s ONLY 2 half steps between E & G

Minor Chords = Root + Minor 3rd + Major 3rd (It’s reversed. Essentially, only difference is the middle note: Flatten the E in C E G so that it becomes C Eb G)

If you played all the chords in the key of C without the use of the black notes, you get the Diatonic Scale:

I = C Maj = C E G

ii = D min = D F A

iii = E min = E G B

IV = F Maj = F A C

V = G Maj = G B D

vi = A min = A C E

Upper Case Roman numerals = Major Chords; Lower Case numerals = Minor Chords

I   ii   iii   IV   V   vi   vii(dim) VIII (or I)

C Dm Em  F  G   Am  Bdim    C

So…

I     V      vi      IV

C    G      Am   F

———–

Why this Chord Progression?

You gotta wonder why this particular progression is just so popular in Western Music – there’s something sticky about the swell and fall of the chords, how the STORY of the chord progresses. I heard once that many comedians were musically inclined, and since comedy is much about timing, I would like to think that a lot of marketing, PR, and writing for mass media could benefit from studying music, specifically Pop Music. Messages that spread and stick well contain a certain musicality. Think of jingles, think of  slogans, or even titles: “Twitter” and “Tweet” caught on quickly, “YouTube” rhymes. “Google” sounds like a vocal exercise.

What are the Four Chords to a Viral Campaign? Viral Video launch, Micro/Macro Blogging , and User Generated content (video or comment), Social Bookmarking? In what sequence? What tone? I think that secrets behind sticky and spreadable messages can be found in modern pop music and pop icons. How to translate those techniques are key. Find that you will have found gold. For now, you have a key chord progression that unlocks dozens of songs. So, start singing your heart out.

T