This
I-IV-V family is the basis for countless chord
progressions in pop, rock, country, blues, and
jazz. This chart shows you how to locate chord
families automatically in any key, all over the
fretboard:
- The
Roman Numerals in the chart above are the roots
of the I, IV, V chord in the key of C.
- The
I chord is named because its root is the keynote,
In the key of C, the C chord is the I chord.
- The
IV chord's root is a fourth above the keynote.
For example, the F is a fourth above C, so
the F chord is the IV chord in the key of C.
- The
V chord's root is a fifth above the keynote.
Its root is a whole step above the root of
the IV chord. G is a fifth above C (and a whole
step above F) so the G chord is the V chord
in the key of C.
- The
I, IV and V chords form a 'family.' They are
used together so frequently that in order to
get familiar with them, you must first locate
them on the fretboard in any key.
Here's
How!
The
I - IV - V root patterns on the fretboard chart
are movable.
1.
*The
above C chord family has a 6th string root/I
chord.
*When the I chord has a 6th string root, the IV chord's root is always
on the same fret/5th string.
Here
are some chord families that make this understandable
(root notes are labeled with an "R"):
| Key
of G |
   |
| Key
of Bb |
   |
| Key
of D |
   |
2.
*This
chord family has a 5th string root.
*When the I chord has a 5th string root, the root of the V chord is always
on the same fret/6th string.
The
root of the IV chord is always two frets below
that of the V chord, like this (root notes labeled "R"):
| Key
of F |
   |
| Key
of D |
   |
| Key
of G |
   |
|
