The progression
Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D (for three violins and basso continuo, probably composed between the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century) is built on an 8-note ostinato bass repeated 28 times, over which the violins play a canon.
In D major:
| Chord | D | A | Bm | F#m | G | D | G | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | I | V | vi | iii | IV | I | IV | V |
| Bass | D | A | B | F# | G | D | G | A |
In C: C – G – Am – Em – F – C – F – G.
Why it works
- The bass moves by descending fourths and ascending seconds (D ↓ A, ↑ B, ↓ F#, ↑ G, ↓ D, ↑ G, ↑ A): a sequential pattern related to the Renaissance Romanesca.
- The first 4 pairs are a “broken” descending fifths sequence (I–V, vi–iii, IV–I): each pair repeats the previous one a step lower.
- The IV – V ending leads naturally back to I: the cycle starts over endlessly.
- The melody can descend by step (F# – E – D – C# – B – A – B – C#) in perfect consonance: it is the descent used in the canon.
Variant with a stepwise descending bass
D – A/C# – Bm – F#m/A – G – D/F# – G – A: bass D – C# – B – A – G – F# – G – A. It is the most widespread “pop” form, linking the progression to the descending bass of ballads (see the lesson on slash chords).
Uses in pop
The comedian Rob Paravonian made famous the number of pop songs that use the progression (in whole or in part). Verified examples:
- Green Day, Basket Case (1994): Eb – Bb – Cm – Gm – Ab – Eb – Bb (I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – V).
- Village People / Pet Shop Boys, Go West (1979 / 1993): the canon progression supports the song.
- Vitamin C, Graduation (Friends Forever) (2000): samples/quotes the canon.
- Oasis, Don’t Look Back in Anger (1995): C – G – Am – E – F – G – C – Am – G: a variant with E major (III, the dominant of the vi) in place of Em.
- Many ballads and wedding songs use the first 4 bars (I – V – vi – iii).
Useful variants
| Variant | C major | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original | C G Am Em F C F G | |
| With stepwise bass | C G/B Am Em/G F C/E F G | ballad |
| With major III | C G Am E F C F G | more dramatic (Oasis) |
| With sevenths | Cmaj7 G/B Am7 Em7 Fmaj7 C/E Dm7 G7 | jazz/soul |
| Half | C G Am Em | intro, 4-chord loop |
Producer exercise
- Loop of 8 chords at 2 beats each (4 bars), 72 BPM, piano.
- Add a violin (or synth lead) playing the descent E – D – C – B – A – G – A – B (in C).
- Add a second instrument playing the same line 2 bars later: you have a canon like Pachelbel’s.
Related topics
Folia, Romanesca, and passamezzo, pop progressions and loops, axis progression, slash chords and inversions in pop, canon and imitation.