{{Short description|Song built around three chords played in a certain sequence}} thumb|248px|IV-V-I progression in C {{audio|IV-V-I in C.mid|Play}} A '''three-chord song''' is a song whose music is built around three chords that are played in a certain sequence. A common type of three-chord song is the simple twelve-bar blues used in blues and rock and roll.
Typically, the three chords used are the chords on the tonic, subdominant, and dominant (scale degrees I, IV and V): in the key of C, these would be the C, F and G chords. Sometimes the V<sup>7</sup> chord is used instead of V, for greater tension.
The I (tonic), IV (subdominant) and V (dominant) chords (primary triads) together encompass all seven tones of the tonic's major scale. These three chords are a simple means of covering many melodies without the use of passing notes.
The order of the chord progression may be varied; popular chord progression variations using the I, IV and V chords of a scale are: * I – IV – V * IV – I – V * I – IV – I – V * I – IV – V – IV Beside the I, IV and V chord progression, other widely used 3-chord progressions are:<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.theguitarlesson.com/guitar-theory/guitar-chords/chord-progressions/| title = Chord progressions – TheGuitarLesson.com}}</ref> * I – vi – V * I – ii – V
==Quotes== Songwriter Harlan Howard once said "country music is three chords and the truth."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/harlanhowa171024.html|title=Harlan Howard Quotes|newspaper=BrainyQuote|language=en|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref>
Lou Reed said "One chord is fine. Two chords is pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rhino.com/RZine/StoryKeeper.lasso?StoryID=73| title = Rhino Records: The Rhino Musical Aptitude Test, 2001| date = 24 November 2023}}</ref> Reed nevertheless wrote many songs with unique or complex chord progressions himself, such as the material on ''Berlin''.
==See also== * Cadence (music) * I–V–vi–IV progression * Twelve-bar blues *Bergamask
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Three-Chord Song}} Category:Harmony Category:Song forms Category:Chord progressions