Skip to main content
🔍 Chord DNA Search

Songs With Am, F, C, and G Chords

The minor version of the most popular pop progression. Used in thousands of pop and rock songs.

AmFCG

🎵 16 Songs Using All 4 Chords

Let It Be
The Beatles · 1970
C – G – Am – F
BeginnerRockC · 75 BPM
Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen · 1984
C – Am – F – G – E7
IntermediateFolkC · 68 BPM
No Woman No Cry
Bob Marley · 1975
C – G – Am – F
BeginnerReggaeC · 90 BPM
Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin · 1971
Am – G – F – Fmaj7 – C – D
AdvancedRockAm · 82 BPM
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman · 1988
C – G – Am – F
BeginnerFolkC · 100 BPM
Riptide
Vance Joy · 2013
Am – G – C – F
BeginnerIndieC · 100 BPM
Ho Hey
The Lumineers · 2012
C – F – G – Am
BeginnerFolkC · 80 BPM
Piano Man
Billy Joel · 1973
C – G – F – Am – D – Dm
IntermediatePopC · 92 BPM
Imagine
John Lennon · 1971
C – Cmaj7 – F – Am – Dm – G
IntermediatePopC · 75 BPM
Counting Stars
OneRepublic · 2013
Am – C – G – F
BeginnerPopAm · 123 BPM
Stay With Me
Sam Smith · 2014
Am – F – C – G
BeginnerPopC · 84 BPM
Where Is the Love?
Black Eyed Peas · 2003
Am – F – C – G
BeginnerHip-HopAm · 90 BPM
Losing My Religion
R.E.M. · 1991
Am – Em – Dm – G – F – C
IntermediateAlternativeAm · 124 BPM
Lean on Me
Bill Withers · 1972
C – F – G – Am
BeginnerR&BC · 72 BPM
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman · 1988
C – G – Am – F
BeginnerFolkC · 100 BPM
Riptide
Vance Joy · 2013
Am – G – C – F
BeginnerIndieC · 100 BPM

🎶 Songs With Most of These Chords

Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan
G – D – Am – C
3/4 chords match
Beginner
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
G – C – D – Am
3/4 chords match
Intermediate
Redemption Song
Bob Marley
G – Em – C – Am – D
3/4 chords match
Intermediate
House of the Rising Sun
The Animals
Am – C – D – F – E
3/4 chords match
Intermediate
Blackbird
The Beatles
G – Am – C – A7
3/4 chords match
Intermediate
Nothing Else Matters
Metallica
Em – Am – C – D – G
3/4 chords match
Intermediate
American Pie
Don McLean
G – C – D – Em – Am
3/4 chords match
Intermediate
The House That Built Me
Miranda Lambert
G – D – Am – C
3/4 chords match
Beginner
Shake It Off
Taylor Swift
G – Am – C
3/4 chords match
Beginner
Anti-Hero
Taylor Swift
F – C – Am – Bb
3/4 chords match
Beginner
What a Feeling (Flashdance)
Irene Cara
F – Bb – C – Am – Gm
3/4 chords match
Beginner
Don't You Want Me
Human League
F – Bb – C – Am – Gm
3/4 chords match
Beginner

The Am, F, C, and G Chord Progression

The minor version of the most popular pop progression. Used in thousands of pop and rock songs. The Am–F–C–G chord progression is one of the most recognizable harmonic patterns in popular music. Our database shows 16 songs that use exactly this combination.

Why These Chords Work Together

The Am, F, C, G chords create a natural harmonic flow because they share common tones. Chords from the same key share notes that create smooth voice-leading and a sense of resolution back to the tonic. The Am chord acts as home, and the progression naturally cycles back to it.

Playing This Progression on Guitar

On guitar, the Am–F–C–G progression can typically be played using open chord shapes, making it very beginner-friendly. Use a consistent strumming pattern — start with simple downstrokes, then add upstrokes once chord changes feel natural. The key skill to develop is minimizing the pause between chords as you switch.

Playing This Progression on Piano

On piano, play Am, F, C, G in root position first (lowest note = root of chord). Once comfortable, use inversions to smooth the voice leading — keep minimal movement between chord changes for a professional, connected sound.

Using This Progression for Songwriting

The Am–F–C–G progression is an excellent foundation for original music. Hundreds of successful songs use simple 4-chord progressions like this one. What makes each song unique is the melody, rhythm, tempo, and lyrics — not the underlying chord structure. Chord progressions are not copyrightable.

Other Popular Chord Progressions

G – C – D
The classic country and folk trio. These three chords appear in hundre...
C – G – Am – F
The I–V–vi–IV progression — arguably the most popular chord progressio...
G – D – Em – C
The I–V–vi–IV in G major — one of the most-used progressions in pop an...
G – Em – C – D
I–vi–IV–V progression, the classic 50s doo-wop progression used widely...
D – G – A
A beginner-friendly three-chord progression in D major, perfect for bl...
Em – G – D – A
A minor i–III–VII–V progression with a melancholic rock feel used in m...
A – E – F#m – D
I–V–vi–IV in A major. Same progression as C–G–Am–F moved up a whole st...
Bm – G – D – A
i–VI–III–VII in B minor. A cinematic, driving minor key progression he...
🎹 Virtual Piano
Play this progression on piano
🎸 Virtual Guitar
See chords on fretboard
🎵 Metronome
Practice with timing
📚 Chord Library
Learn every chord

FAQ

Am, F, C, and G Chord Progression — FAQ

What songs use the Am, F, C, and G chord progression?
Many famous songs use the Am, F, C, and G chord progression. Songs that use all these chords include: "Let It Be" by The Beatles, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, "No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley, "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin, "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman. The minor version of the most popular pop progression. Used in thousands of pop and rock songs.
Is the Am–F–C–G progression easy to play?
Yes! The Am–F–C–G progression uses 4 chords, all fundamental shapes on guitar and piano. Beginners can learn all 4 chords in a few weeks of practice, and the progression is one of the most natural-feeling in Western music.
What key is the Am–F–C–G progression in?
The Am–F–C–G progression is most naturally in the key of A minor.
Can I use the Am–F–C–G progression to write my own song?
Absolutely! Chord progressions are not copyrightable — what makes a song unique is the melody, lyrics, and arrangement. Choose a strumming pattern, add a melody using the scale that fits these chords, and you'll have an original song.
How do I play Am chord on guitar?
Am is the first chord in this progression. For Am: 2nd fret 4th string, 2nd fret 3rd string, 1st fret 2nd string. Others open.
What strumming pattern works with Am–F–C–G?
The most versatile pattern is down-down-up-up-down-up (D-D-U-U-D-U). For Am–F–C–G, try switching chords every 2 beats (half notes), or every 4 beats for beginners. As you improve, experiment with more complex patterns.
How do I practice the Am–F–C–G chord progression?
Start with a metronome at 60 BPM. Practice just the transition between Am and F in a loop, then add each chord. Gradually increase tempo by 5 BPM once transitions are clean. Focus on minimizing the gap between chord changes.
Can I play the Am–F–C–G progression on ukulele?
Yes! Ukulele (GCEA tuning) can play these chords, though the shapes differ from guitar. The overall progression sounds bright and fun on a ukulele — look up a ukulele chord chart for the specific finger positions.
Is the Am–F–C–G progression overused?
Progressions like I–V–vi–IV appear in hundreds of songs, but that doesn't make them overused. What makes each song unique is the tempo, key, melody, lyrics, and arrangement — not the underlying chord structure. Simple progressions are used in countless hits for good reason.
What scale should I use to solo over Am–F–C–G?
Use the A minor pentatonic scale for safe, pleasing solos over this progression. All 5 notes will sound consonant. Add the blue note (♭5) for a bluesier flavor.