I–I–IV–I in A Major

Pattern: I – I – IV – I   Chords: A – A – D – A

Chord Breakdown

NumeralChordTypeFunction
I A (details) major Tonic
I A (details) major Tonic
IV D (details) major Subdominant
I A (details) major Tonic

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through A (Tonic) → A (Tonic) → D (Subdominant) → A (Tonic).

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.

Song Examples

Chord Details

A D

More Progressions in A Major

I–IV–V–I I–V–vi–IV I–vi–IV–V ii–V–I I–IV–V I–♭VII–IV vi–IV–I–V I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V I–IV I–V IV–V IV–I