IV roman degree
A step out from home into the light — the subdominant. It sets up the dominant or resolves with a plagal ('amen') colour, opening space without sharp tension.
Where it lives
5semitones from the tonic
Major mode
major triad
5semitones from the tonic
Minor mode
major triad
Hear it in context: Perfect Authentic Cadence
Piano sound loads on first tap. Resolved in the key of C — every chord links to its full analysis.
Progressions that use it
Perfect Authentic CadencePop Axis Progression'50s Doo-Wop ProgressionPassamezzo ModernoI-IV-V-IVI-V-IV-VI-IV-vi-VRock Plagal TurnbackI-iii-vi-IVMinor-Start Authentic CadenceIV-I-V-viI-IV-vi-IVDorian VampI-Vsus-V-IVI-IVsus-IV-Vii-V-I-IVI-IV-ii-Vvi-IV-I-VI-iii-IV-VI-vi-IV-iiI-Isus-IV-VI-I+-IV-VI-V+-vi-IVSecondary Dominant (V of vi)Gospel Quick-ChangeMinor Plagal CadenceThe Borrowed iv (Modal Mixture)I-IV-V-iiiMixolydian VampI-bIII-bVII-IVI-I+-IV-viI-III-vi-IV