Pop in F — 4 chords
The F-C-Dm-Am progression (I-V-vi-iii), the same structure as the C version but transposed to F: a good way to introduce the F barre chord within an otherwise simple sequence.
Tips
Place the F chord on its own first and check that no string is muted before adding it to the loop. The other three chords (C, Dm, Am) should already feel familiar if you've worked the C or A minor progressions.
Understanding this type of exercise
The four chords of pop
The C-G-Am-Em progression (I-V-vi-iii) is behind a huge number of songs. Four open chords, a loop that never quite resolves: the ideal training ground for first chord changes.
Practical tips and common mistakes
- Work the changes in pairs (C→G, G→Am, Am→Em, Em→C) before running the whole loop.
- Find the finger that stays put between two chords: it acts as a pivot and a reference.
- The strumming keeps going even if the fretting hand isn't ready — a slightly muted chord beats a gap in the rhythm.
Chord progression — F
Bar 1
F
I
Bar 2
C
V
Bar 3
Dm
vi
Bar 4
Am
iii
Chords
Suggested next step: Improvisation — pop in F, relative scale
The same exercise in other keys
Related sheets
- Ballad riff — E minor (Level 2)
- Pop in C — arpeggios (Level 2)
- Deceptive cadence — G7 to A minor (Level 2)