I–I–IV–I

This four-bar phrase lingers on the tonic before briefly visiting the subdominant and returning. It reflects the opening bars of a 12-bar blues and works as a standalone vamp or riff foundation.

Pattern: I – I – IV – I   Example in C Major: C – C – F – C

Genre: blues, rock   Difficulty: beginner

Choose a Key

C Major C – C – F – C G Major G – G – C – G D Major D – D – G – D A Major A – A – D – A E Major E – E – A – E B Major B – B – E – B F♯ Major F♯ – F♯ – B – F♯ F Major F – F – B♭ – F B♭ Major B♭ – B♭ – E♭ – B♭ E♭ Major E♭ – E♭ – A♭ – E♭ A♭ Major A♭ – A♭ – D♭ – A♭ D♭ Major D♭ – D♭ – G♭ – D♭

Song Examples