I–vi–IV–V (the ’50s progression) · F♯ major

F♯ – D♯m – B – C♯

IF♯ · F♯ A♯ C♯

viD♯m · D♯ F♯ A♯

IVB · B D♯ F♯

VC♯ · C♯ E♯ G♯

F♯ – D♯m – B – C♯: the doo-wop changes, under “Stand by Me” and a whole decade of ballads. In F♯ major they are I, vi, IV and V.

Smooth voicings — root in the left hand

The right hand takes whichever inversion is nearest, so it moves by a step or two instead of jumping.

F♯ I · root position

1 · 3 · 5 over F♯ in the bass

D♯m vi · first inversion

♭3 · 5 · 1 over D♯ in the bass

B IV · second inversion

5 · 1 · 3 over B in the bass

C♯ V · second inversion

5 · 1 · 3 over C♯ in the bass

Why it works

I and vi share two notes, so does vi with IV, and V leads straight back to I: the bass walks down a third, down a third, up a step and home.

I–vi–IV–V in every key

C major D♭ major D major E♭ major E major F major F♯ major G major A♭ major A major B♭ major B major

More progressions in F♯

ii–V–I in F♯ major ii–V–i in F♯ minor I–V–vi–IV in F♯ major vi–IV–I–V in F♯ major I–IV–V in F♯ major

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