Train Beat · Country

E · A · E · B7

I · IV · I · V in the key of E

Boom-chick at a canter — the alternating bass IS the song.

Four bars of train beat in the key of E, written I · IV · I · V and played boom-chick over a backbeat groove at around 120 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 · IV · I · 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 in open position, frets 2 to 4, on 3 strings
• A IV up at the 5th fret, spanning to the 7th, on all six strings
• E I in open position, frets 2 to 4, on 3 strings
• B7 V up at the 2nd fret, spanning to the 4th, on 4 strings

How it should feel

Strum

Boom-chick

Groove

Backbeat

Tempo

120 bpm

Key

E

Voicings

Low & Wide

Open-voiced shapes down the neck — wide, ringing, cinematic.

The shapes

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

More Country

• E · A7 · E6 · B7 I · IV7 · I6 · V7 in E — Takin’ My Horse

Posted Sep 23, 2026. Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.