’50s Doo-wop · Classics

E · C#m · A · B

I · vi · IV · V in the key of E

Stand By Me, every slow dance since 1958.

Four bars of ’50s doo-wop in the key of E, written I · vi · IV · V and played let it ring over a half-time groove at around 84 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 · vi · IV · V 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 up at the 5th fret, spanning to the 7th, on 3 strings
• C#m vi up at the 4th fret, spanning to the 6th, on 3 strings
• A IV up at the 5th fret, spanning to the 6th, on 3 strings
• B V up at the 7th fret, spanning to the 9th, on 3 strings

How it should feel

Strum

Let it ring

Groove

Half-time

Tempo

84 bpm

Key

E

Voicings

Glue

The smallest possible movement between chords. The voices barely leave their seats.

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 26, 2026. Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.