The Creep · Classics
G · B7 · C · Cm
I · III7 · IV · iv in the key of G
Major three, then the minor four — the borrowed-chord ache from the Beatles to Radiohead.
Four bars of the creep in the key of G, written I · III7 · IV · iv and played let it ring over a half-time groove at around 88 beats per minute. The chord shapes are below, and you can hear the whole thing play (and slow it down) without an account.
Opens in the Progression Lab. No account, nothing to sign in to. Ten minutes of playback a day, and an hour with a free account.
What the chords are
This is I · III7 · IV · iv in the key of G. The degree of each chord is what makes the progression recognisable in any key, so the same four moves transpose anywhere once you know them by number.
- G I in open position, frets 2 to 3, on all six strings
- B7 III7 in open position, frets 1 to 2, on 5 strings
- C IV in open position, frets 1 to 3, on 5 strings
- Cm iv up at the 3rd fret, spanning to the 5th, on 5 strings
How it should feel
- Strum
- Let it ring
- Groove
- Half-time
- Tempo
- 88 bpm
- Key
- G
- Voicings
- Campfire
Big open grips and barres — the whole-hand chords everyone starts on.
The shapes
Low E on the left, high e on the right. 0 is an open string, × is one you do not play.
| Chord | E | A | D | G | B | e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| B7 | × | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| C | × | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cm | × | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
More Classics
- G · D · Em · Bm · C · G · C · D I · V · vi · iii · IV · I · IV · V in G · The Canon
- Em · C · G · D vi · IV · I · V in G · Minor Anthem
- Em · D · C · B i · ♭VII · ♭VI · V in E · The Fall
- E · C#m · A · B I · vi · IV · V in E · ’50s Doo-wop
Posted . Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.