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Pop

Sensitive

C#m · A · E · B

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C#m
vi
A
IV
E
I
B
V
Key
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Sensitive in E major

Sensitive is vi · IV · I · V. In E major that is C#m, A, E, B. The 2000s hit machine. Emotional and instantly recognizable. Loop those chords in order. The same pattern works in any major key.

Songs that use this

  • Someone Like You · Adele
  • Let Her Go · Passenger
  • Demons · Imagine Dragons
  • Set Fire to the Rain · Adele

Why it works

In E major this loop is C#m, A, E, B (vi · IV · I · V). I is the home chord. 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.

C#mAEB

Try in other keys

Same Roman numerals; chords transpose with the key.

C major → Am · F · C · GD major → Bm · G · D · AE major → C#m · A · E · BF major → Dm · Bb · F · CG major → Em · C · G · DA major → F#m · D · A · EB major → G#m · E · B · F#

Related progressions

Major 4Major 4 RotationMajor 4 SubdominantStepwise PopPop Rotation Lift

Frequently asked questions

What is the Sensitive ukulele chord progression?

Sensitive is the vi–IV–I–V chord loop. In E major that is C#m, A, E, and B. The 2000s hit machine. Emotional and instantly recognizable.

What do the roman numerals mean in Sensitive?

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

How do you practice Sensitive on ukulele?

Loop C#m, A, E, and B. 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 Sensitive progression?

Songs built on Sensitive include Someone Like You, Let Her Go, Demons, and Set Fire to the Rain.

Why do so many songs use the same chords?

Sensitive (vi–IV–I–V) 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.

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