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Chord progression · E major

The minor-feel pop progression (vi–IV–I–V) in E major

The pop progression started from the minor vi chord, so it feels darker and more urgent while using exactly the same chords.

Heard in “Zombie” – The Cranberries and many more.

Chords in E major
C♯m→A→E→B
Numerals
viIVIV

Play along

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

1C♯mvi
2AIV
3EI
4BV

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

The chords

vi C♯m
×4C♯2E1G♯3C♯E
1G♯2C♯E4C♯
C4EC♯G♯C♯ E G♯
IV A
×A1E2A3C♯E
2A1C♯EA
C4EAC♯A/C♯
I E
E2B3E1G♯BE
1G♯4EE2B
BC4EG♯E/B
V B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC4D♯F♯B D♯ F♯

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.

vi–IV–I–V in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in E major

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