This progression is very common one and has been used a lot in pop music since the 50s hence the name. It’s associated particularly with doo-wop – play it and you can ‘doo-wop’ along with ease.

What is the 50s progression?

The progression is 1–6–4–5 and represented in Roman numerals is ||: I–vi–IV–V :||

Example: C major = ||: C–Am–F–G :||

The 50s progression is also know as the ‘Heart and Soul’ chords, the ‘Stand by Me’ changes and the doo-wop progression. ‘Heart and Soul’ is a jazz standard composed by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Frank Loesser. ‘Stand by Me’ was c-written and performed by Ben E. King.

The first song to use the sequence extensively is said to have been ‘Blue Moon’, written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers, and first released with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, in 1934.

There are many other possible variations, as is the case with other chord progressions

Some popular songs using the 50s progression

The following list is a few songs using the 50s progression in a fairly straight way eg. cycling through the progression. I’ll cover others at a later date.

  • All I Have to Do is Dream – The Everly Brothers
  • Blue Moon – The Marcels
  • Chain Gang – Sam Cooke
  • Dear Future Husband – Meghan Trainor
  • Duke of Earl – Gene Chandler
  • Heart and Soul – Hoagy Carmichael & Connie Boswell
  • Lonely This Christmas – Mud
  • Please Mr Postman – The Marvelettes
  • Runaround Sue – Dion & The Belmonts
  • Stand by Me – Ben E. King
  • Twistin The Night Away chords – Sam Cooke
  • Where Have All The Flowers Gone? – Peter, Paul and Mary