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.

Practice this progression →

Opens in the Progression Lab. No account, nothing to sign in to — ten minutes of playback a day, and an hour with a free account.

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.

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