Chord progression · E major

The pop progression (I–V–vi–IV) in E 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 E major: E→B→C♯m→A
Numerals: IVviIV

Play along

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

Tempo 90 BPM Click

1EI

2BV

3C♯mvi

4AIV

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

The chords

I E

E G♯ B

V B

B/D♯

vi C♯m

C♯m/E

IV A

A/E

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

C D♭D E♭E F F♯G A♭A B♭B

More progressions in E major

I–IV–V–IV I–vi–IV–V vi–IV–I–V 12-bar blues ii–V–I I–vi–ii–V I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V I–♭VII–IV–I