I6/9–IVmaj7 in E Major

Pattern: I69 – IVmaj7 Chords: E6/9 – Amaj7

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
I69	E6/9 (details)	sixth ninth	Tonic
IVmaj7	Amaj7 (details)	major seventh	Subdominant

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through E6/9 (Tonic) → Amaj7 (Subdominant).

The I6/9–IVmaj7 progression pairs two of the lushest chord voicings in jazz: the sixth-ninth chord and the major seventh. The 6/9 chord combines the warmth of the sixth with the brightness of the ninth, creating a rich, satisfying tonic that moves to the equally colorful IVmaj7. This progression defines the bossa nova sound and is widely used as a sophisticated final cadence in jazz arrangements.

Song Examples

Chameleon — Herbie Hancock
The Girl from Ipanema — Jobim
Mercy Mercy Mercy — Cannonball Adderley

Chord Details

E6/9 Amaj7

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

Related Progressions

Imaj7–IVmaj7 I6–ii–V Imaj7–ii–V