Harmonic Schemas & Shuttles in Pop Music

12-bar-blues

I - I - I - I
IV - IV - I - I
V - IV - I - I

Double Plagal

♭VII - IV - I

Variants: I- ♭VII - IV (Rotation)

Doo-Wop

I - vi - IV - V

Variants:
• Substitute ii for IV: I - vi - ii - V
• Rotation: vi - IV - V - I, IV-V-I-vi

Singer/Songwriter

I - V - vi - IV

Variants:
Rotations: vi-IV-I-V, IV-I-V-vi; V-vi-IV-I

Hopscotch

IV - V - vi - I

Lament

i - ♭VII - ♭VI - V

Variants:
• Minor v instead of major
• Major I instead of minor i

Circle of fifths

iii - vi - ii - V - I - (IV - ♭VII - . . . )

Puff

I - iii - IV

Variants:
• Minor version: i - ♭III - iv
• I - III - IV

Dorian Shuttle

i - IV

Mixolydian Shuttle (Subtonic Shuttle)

I - ♭VII

Lydian Cadence

II - IV - I

Aeolian Shuttle

i - ♭VII - ♭VI - ♭VII

Extended Plagal

♭VI - ♭III - ♭VII - IV - I