Bakersfield · Country
E · A · B7 · A
I · IV · V7 · IV in the key of E
The Telecaster answer to Nashville — brighter, harder, straight time.
Four bars of bakersfield in the key of E, written I · IV · V7 · IV and played boom-chick over a backbeat groove at around 132 beats per minute. The chord shapes are below, and you can hear the whole thing play (and slow it down) without an account.
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 · IV · V7 · 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 all six strings
- A IV at the 2nd fret, on 5 strings
- B7 V7 in open position, frets 1 to 2, on 5 strings
- A IV at the 2nd fret, on 5 strings
How it should feel
- Strum
- Boom-chick
- Groove
- Backbeat
- Tempo
- 132 bpm
- Key
- E
- Voicings
- Campfire
Big open grips and barres — the whole-hand chords everyone starts on.
The shapes
Low E on the left, high e on the right. 0 is an open string, × is one you do not play.
| Chord | E | A | D | G | B | e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A | × | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| B7 | × | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| A | × | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
More Country
- E · A · E · B7 I · IV · I · V in E · Train Beat
- E · A7 · E6 · B7 I · IV7 · I6 · V7 in E · Takin’ My Horse
Posted . Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.