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Chord progression · A major

The pop progression (I–V–vi–IV) in A major

Probably the most-used progression in modern pop. It starts home, lifts to V, dips into the minor vi for a touch of emotion, then eases back through IV.

Heard in “Let It Be” – The Beatles, “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey, “No Woman, No Cry” – Bob Marley and many more.

Chords in A major
A→E→F♯m→D
Numerals
IVviIV

Play along

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

1AI
2EV
3F♯mvi
4DIV

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

The chords

I A
×A1E2A3C♯E
2A1C♯EA
AC4EC♯A C♯ E
V E
E2B3E1G♯BE
1G♯4EE2B
BC4EG♯E/G♯
vi F♯m
1F♯3C♯4F♯1A1C♯1F♯
2A1C♯3F♯A
AC4C♯F♯F♯m/A
IV D
××D1A3D2F♯
1A2D3F♯A
AC4DF♯D/A

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–V–vi–IV in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in A major

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