I–IV–I in A Major

Pattern: I – IV – I Chords: A – D – A

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
I	A (details)	major	Tonic
IV	D (details)	major	Subdominant
I	A (details)	major	Tonic

Harmonic Analysis

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

The simplest blues motion: tonic to subdominant and back. This two-chord movement captures the essential blues sound and forms the core of countless blues riffs and vamps.

Song Examples

Catfish Blues — Muddy Waters
Dust My Broom — Elmore James

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