I–IV–V–IV in A Major

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

Chord Breakdown

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

Harmonic Analysis

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

This four-bar loop cycles through the three primary blues chords in a symmetrical pattern. The ascending motion to V and descent back to IV creates a rocking, cyclical groove used extensively in blues rock.

Song Examples

Hey Joe — Jimi Hendrix
Gloria — Them

Chord Details

A D E

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