Canon progression

I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V

Pachelbel's eight-chord sequence. Its stepwise bass line has been borrowed by many pop songs.

Key

Canon progression in every key

The numerals stay the same in every key; only the chord names change. The easiest keys on guitar are G major, C major, A major.

A major	A	E	F#m	C#m	D	A	D	E
Ab major	Ab	Eb	Fm	Cm	C#	Ab	C#	Eb
B major	B	F#	Abm	Ebm	E	B	E	F#
Bb major	Bb	F	Gm	Dm	Eb	Bb	Eb	F
C major	C	G	Am	Em	F	C	F	G
D major	D	A	Bm	F#m	G	D	G	A
Db major	C#	Ab	Bbm	Fm	F#	C#	F#	Ab
E major	E	B	C#m	Abm	A	E	A	B
Eb major	Eb	Bb	Cm	Gm	Ab	Eb	Ab	Bb
F major	F	C	Dm	Am	Bb	F	Bb	C
F# major	F#	C#	Ebm	Bbm	B	F#	B	C#
G major	G	D	Em	Bm	C	G	C	D

Songs that use Canon progression

Canon in DDABmF#mG

Questions

What chords are in the Canon progression progression?

In D major it is D, A, Bm, F#m, G, D, G and A. In any other key, use the same numbered steps (I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V) of that key's scale.

What is the easiest key for Canon progression on guitar?

G major, C major and A major use open chords, so they are the easiest places to start.