Chord progressions
The i–VI–III–VII chord progression
i–VI–III–VII is a four-chord loop in a minor key: the minor home chord followed by the three major chords built on the sixth, third and seventh notes of the natural minor scale. In A minor it is Am – F – C – G.
Hear it, then play it
Play each chord in turn: press all of its notes, in any order and any octave, before moving on. The chords are in A minor.
Play Am (0 of 4 chords done)
Why it works
All four chords come from the natural minor scale, with no raised seventh, so nothing pulls hard back home: the loop can circle forever. It contains the same chords as vi–IV–I–V in the relative major key.
Same chords, two names
Am – F – C – G is i–VI–III–VII in A minor and vi–IV–I–V in C major. Which name fits depends on which chord the song treats as home.