vi–IV–I–V · F♯ major

D♯m – B – F♯ – C♯

viD♯m · D♯ F♯ A♯

IVB · B D♯ F♯

IF♯ · F♯ A♯ C♯

VC♯ · C♯ E♯ G♯

D♯m – B – F♯ – C♯: the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, started on the minor one. The Cranberries’ “Zombie” turns on this order. In F♯ major they are vi, IV, I 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.

D♯m vi · root position

1 · ♭3 · 5 over D♯ in the bass

B IV · first inversion

3 · 5 · 1 over B in the bass

F♯ I · second inversion

5 · 1 · 3 over F♯ in the bass

C♯ V · root position

1 · 3 · 5 over C♯ in the bass

Why it works

Starting on the minor chord makes the whole loop sound minor and searching, though not one chord has changed — the order of the same four chords is the whole difference.

vi–IV–I–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 I–vi–IV–V in F♯ major I–IV–V in F♯ major

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