The_Complete_Idiot%27s_Guide_To_Music_Theory

To demonstrate, let’s look at the chords behind some of the melodies we first
examined back in Chapter 8.
Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
We’ll start with “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” which is a great example of a
progression that relies heavily on the I, IV, and V chords—but with a few twists.
Here’s the song, complete with chords:
The chords to “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore.”
The first twist in the chord progression comes in the fifth full measure (the start
of the second phrase), which uses the iii chord (F♯m) instead of the expected I.
The second twist is the sixth measure, which moves down to the ii chord (Em).
From there the melody ends with a perfect cadence (I-V-I), just as you’d expect.
So, if you started your hunt for the perfect progression for this melody by applying
a standard I-IV-V progression, you’d be in the right neighborhood.
Bach’s Minuet in G
Next, let’s examine Bach’s Minuet in G. Again, if you apply the standard I-IV-V
progression, you’ll be pretty much on the mark, as you can see here:
The chords to Bach’s Minuet in G.
Chapter 10: Chord Progressions
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