The Big Climb · Rock
A · G · D · A
I · ♭VII · IV in the key of Am
The classic-rock lift. Dropping a whole step and then climbing back is what makes a chorus sound like it opens up.
Four bars of the big climb in the key of Am, written I · ♭VII · IV and played driving 8ths over a backbeat groove at around 126 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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How it should feel
- Strum
- Driving 8ths
- Groove
- Backbeat
- Tempo
- 126 bpm
- Key
- Am
- Voicings
- Sparkle
Small, bright voicings high on the top strings — the second-guitar part.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | × | × | × | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| G | × | × | × | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| D | × | × | × | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| A | × | × | × | 9 | 10 | 9 |
More Rock
- A · D · E · F#m I · IV · V · vi in Am · Happy Song
- E · A · B · A I · IV · V · IV in E · Wild Thing
- D · C · G · D I · ♭VII · IV in D · The Big Climb
- D · G · A · Bm I · IV · V · vi in D · Happy Song
Posted . Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.