I–IV–I in E Major

Pattern: I – IV – I Chords: E – A – E

Chord Breakdown

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

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through E (Tonic) → A (Subdominant) → E (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

E A

More Progressions in E 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