Skip to main content
Ukulalala

Pop

Royal Road

A · B · G#m · C#m

A
IV
B
V
G#m
iii
C#m
vi
Key
learn more

Royal Road in E major

Royal Road is IV · V · iii · vi. In E major that is A, B, G#m, C#m. The "Royal Road" progression: a cornerstone of Japanese pop and anime music. Loop those chords in order. The same pattern works in any major key.

Songs that use this

  • Everywhere · Fleetwood Mac
  • Every Breath You Take · The Police

Why it works

In E major this loop is A, B, G#m, C#m (IV · V · iii · vi). V pulls away from home and wants to resolve. vi adds a minor color. IV moves the song forward without leaving the key. Play the chords in order and the pattern is easy to hear on ukulele.

Chords in E major

Jump to each shape used in this loop.

ABG#mC#m

Try in other keys

Same Roman numerals; chords transpose with the key.

C major → F · G · Em · AmD major → G · A · F#m · BmE major → A · B · G#m · C#mF major → Bb · C · Am · DmG major → C · D · Bm · EmA major → D · E · C#m · F#mB major → E · F# · D#m · G#m

Related progressions

Major 4Major 4 RotationMajor 4 SubdominantStepwise PopPop Rotation Lift

Frequently asked questions

What is the Royal Road ukulele chord progression?

Royal Road is the IV–V–iii–vi chord loop. In E major that is A, B, G#m, and C#m. The "Royal Road" progression: a cornerstone of Japanese pop and anime music.

What do the roman numerals mean in Royal Road?

Roman numerals mark each chord's role in the key, not fixed chord names. Uppercase is major, lowercase is minor. Royal Road uses IV–V–iii–vi. Change the key and the roles stay; the chord names move with it. In E major you play A, B, G#m, C#m.

How do you practice Royal Road on ukulele?

Loop A, B, G#m, and C#m. Change on the first beat of each bar and keep the strum steady. If one change is hard, practice that pair slowly, then play the full loop again.

What songs use the Royal Road progression?

Songs built on Royal Road include Everywhere, and Every Breath You Take.

Why do so many songs use the same chords?

Royal Road (IV–V–iii–vi) is one of the most reused patterns in Pop and beyond. Writers come back to it because the roles are strong: home, departure, pull, and contrast. It supports almost any melody and still feels complete when you loop it. Same functions, different songs.

Get the Ukulalala app

Keep strumming

Get occasional tips, new tools, and progression inspiration.