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Chord progression · E major

The Mixolydian rock progression (I–♭VII–IV–I) in E major

Borrows the ♭VII chord from the Mixolydian mode for a big, open classic-rock sound. The ♭VII–IV–I movement sounds great with power chords too.

Heard in “Sweet Child o’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses (verse) and many more.

Chords in E major
E→D→A→E
Numerals
I♭VIIIVI

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1EI
2D♭VII
3AIV
4EI

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

I E
E2B3E1G♯BE
1G♯4EE2B
C4EBC5G♯E G♯ B
♭VII D
××D1A3D2F♯
1A2D3F♯A
C4DAC5F♯D F♯ A
IV A
×A1E2A3C♯E
2A1C♯EA
C4EAC5C♯A/C♯

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.

I–♭VII–IV–I in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in E major

I–V–vi–IVI–IV–V–IVI–vi–IV–Vvi–IV–I–V12-bar bluesii–V–II–vi–ii–VI–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V