The vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major is the chord sequence F#m – D – A – E. It starts on the minor vi, which gives it a reflective opening, then lifts through the IV and I to the V. This page gives you the full sequence bar by bar, when to use it, variations and the same progression in other keys.
What is the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major?
The vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major is a progression in A major with the degrees vi–IV–I–V and the chord sequence F#m – D – A – E. The chords are diatonic to A major except where the progression itself calls for a borrowed or altered chord, and the table below shows every chord in order with its degree.
| Bar | Degree | Chord |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | vi | F#m |
| 2 | IV | D |
| 3 | I | A |
| 4 | V | E |
F#m is the minor chord built from F#, A, C#. In the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major it appears 1 time, and its job is to anchor the progression as the tonic — the chord the phrase returns to. Learn it on its own page — F#m guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
D is the major chord built from D, F#, A. In the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — D guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
A is the major chord built from A, C#, E. In the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — A guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
E is the major chord built from E, G#, B. In the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — E guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
When to use it
The vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major feels emotional, building and anthemic, and it is used most in pop and rock. It starts on the minor vi, which gives it a reflective opening, then lifts through the IV and I to the V. That feel is the reason to choose this progression: when the music needs that mood, this sequence delivers it with the least effort, because the chords do the emotional work for you.
Over the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major, the scales that fit best are the A major scale, A minor pentatonic scale, A blues scale. The major scale fits the major chords, the minor pentatonic fits almost everything in the progression, and the blues scale adds the flattened notes that suit the dominant 7th chords where the progression has them. Start by soloing with the minor pentatonic scale over the whole progression, then try the major scale over the tonic chord and listen to how the colour changes. The Chord Progression Builder lets you hear the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major in any key, and the Progression Finder identifies a progression from its chords.
Variations
Extending the V to E7: F#m – D – A – E7. Turn the V chord into E7 by adding the flattened 7th. The dominant 7th pulls harder toward the tonic, so the resolution feels stronger.
Swapping IV for Bm: F#m – Bm – A – E. Replace the IV chord with the ii chord. The two chords share two notes, so the substitution is smooth, and the progression sounds a little more jazzy and a little less direct.
The same progression in other keys
The same progression in other keys is vi–IV–I–V in C major, vi–IV–I–V in C# major, vi–IV–I–V in D major, vi–IV–I–V in D# major. The degrees stay the same — vi–IV–I–V — and only the chords change, because each key has its own set of diatonic chords. Learning the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major as a pattern of degrees, rather than as a list of chord names, is what lets you play it in any key: the pattern is portable, the chords are not. Try the progression in the key a fourth above A major next, then a fifth above, and use the Chord Transposer to move the whole sequence to a new key in one step. The key pages for those keys — for example the key of C major — list the diatonic chords you will need.
Practising the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major
A good way to practise the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major is to play it three times in a row without stopping: once slowly, once at a comfortable tempo, and once while humming a simple melody over the top. The melody does not need to be clever — three or four notes from the key of A major are enough — because the point is to hear how the chords support a melody, not to write a song. Then try the progression with a different rhythm: play each chord as an arpeggio instead of a block chord, or strum it with a pattern from the Strumming Pattern Finder and keep time with the Metronome. The sequence is F#m – D – A – E and the degrees are vi–IV–I–V; once you can play it without looking at the page, you know the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major.
For a second practice step, take the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major apart chord by chord. Play the first chord on its own and hold it for two bars, listening to its sound in the key of A major, then add the second chord, then the third, until the whole sequence F#m – D – A – E is running. That slow build is the fastest way to learn a progression, because it teaches you the change between each pair of chords rather than the sequence as a blur. When the changes are clean at a slow tempo, raise the tempo a little at a time with the Metronome, and try the progression in the neighbouring keys linked above, where the degrees vi–IV–I–V stay the same and only the chord names change.
Frequently asked questions
What key is the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major in?
It is in A major. The degrees are vi–IV–I–V, and the chords are the diatonic chords of that key, so the progression belongs to A major and the scales of that key fit over it.
How many chords are in the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major?
There are 4 chords in the sequence, with 4 distinct chords: F#m, D, A, E. The repeated chords are part of the pattern — repetition is what makes a progression memorable.
What scale should I play over the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major?
The A major scale, the A minor pentatonic scale and the A blues scale all fit, as explained in the section above. Start with the minor pentatonic, which fits over the whole progression, and add the major scale over the tonic chord.
Can I play the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major in another key?
Yes. The degrees stay the same — vi–IV–I–V — and only the chords change. The section above links the same progression in other keys, and the Chord Transposer moves the whole sequence to any key you choose.
Is the vi–IV–I–V chord progression in A major hard to play?
It uses 4 distinct chords, all diatonic to A major, so the difficulty is in the chord changes rather than in the chords themselves. Practise the changes slowly, one chord per bar, and the progression will come together.