Rock classic Mixolydian progression on guitar
What is the Rock classic Mixolydian progression?
The Rock classic Mixolydian progression is E, D and A (I–bVII–IV), in the key of E major. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → dominant → subdominant, 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) → D (bVII, time to come back) → A (IV, the stroll). Press play and follow along — at the "time to come back" chord, notice the physical urge to hear E again — the home chord.
Guitar
Its six strings spread across a wide neck, so each chord has room to ring, and one player can be the rhythm and the harmony at the same time. 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 · open 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 · try it in Chord and Fret