I5–IV5–V5 in A Major

Pattern: I5 – IV5 – V5 Chords: A5 – D5 – E5

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
I5	A5 (details)	power	Tonic
IV5	D5 (details)	power	Subdominant
V5	E5 (details)	power	Dominant

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through A5 (Tonic) → D5 (Subdominant) → E5 (Dominant).

The I5–IV5–V5 progression is the power chord version of the classic I–IV–V, stripping away the thirds to leave only roots and fifths. Without major or minor quality, these chords gain a raw, neutral power that sounds massive through distortion. This is the foundation of rock, punk, and metal rhythm guitar, where harmonic ambiguity and sheer energy matter more than tonal color.

Song Examples

Smoke on the Water — Deep Purple
Iron Man — Black Sabbath
Blitzkrieg Bop — Ramones

Chord Details

A5 D5 E5

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

Related Progressions

I–IV–V I–IV–V–I I–♭VII–IV