Blues quick change progression on guitar
What is the Blues quick change progression?
The Blues quick change progression is E, A, E and E (I–IV–I–I), in the key of E major. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → subdominant → tonic → tonic, cycling as a vamp with no full cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Good music works like a good walk: you leave, get a little lost on purpose, and come back. The map of this one: E (I, home) → A (IV, the stroll) → E (I, home) → E (I, home). Press play and follow along — at the "time to come back" chord, notice the physical urge to hear E again — the home chord.
Guitar
On the acoustic guitar you hold the whole song in your hands: the low sixth string lays down a bass note while the higher strings build the chord above it. From campfire pop to rock ballads and blues, the acoustic guitar is the default choice, whether you strum full chords or pick out a quiet verse. Its home chord E keeps its lowest note on E and rings 3 open strings.
Circle of Fifths: See the key's diatonic chords and its secondary dominants · try it in Chord and Fret
Save this progression in Chord and FretReharmonize: Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize's Subtle and Medium levels are free; Bold and Jazz are part of Pro · use it in Chord and Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of E. In the app, every chord in this progression comes with its other shapes and audio, free. Open in Chord and Fret →
Metronome: Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · see it in Chord and Fret