The Anthem · Classics

E · B · C#m · A

I · V · vi · IV in the key of E

The four chords under half the radio. Starts home, lifts, aches, resolves.

Four bars of the anthem in the key of E, written I · V · vi · IV and played folk strum over a backbeat groove at around 92 beats per minute. The chord shapes are below, and you can hear the whole thing play (and slow it down) without an account.

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What the chords are

This is I · V · vi · IV in the key of E. The degree of each chord is what makes the progression recognisable in any key, so the same four moves transpose anywhere once you know them by number.

• E I in open position, frets 1 to 2, on 3 strings
• B V at the 4th fret, on 3 strings
• C#m vi up at the 5th fret, spanning to the 6th, on 3 strings
• A IV up at the 9th fret, spanning to the 11th, on 3 strings

How it should feel

Strum

Folk strum

Groove

Backbeat

Tempo

92 bpm

Key

E

Voicings

The Climb

The top voice steps upward through the progression — a melody rising inside the chords.

The shapes

Low E on the left, high e on the right. 0 is an open string, × is one you do not play.

More Classics

• Gm · Bb · C · Eb · Gm · D7 i · ♭III · IV · ♭VI · i · V7 in G · Rising Sun
• G · B7 · C · Cm I · III7 · IV · iv in G · The Creep
• G · D · Em · Bm · C · G · C · D I · V · vi · iii · IV · I · IV · V in G · The Canon
• Em · C · G · D vi · IV · I · V in G · Minor Anthem

Posted Sep 25, 2026. Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.