Funk · Intermediate · major key
Funky 9th-chord blues
I9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – IV9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – V9 – IV9 – I9 – V9 — A 12-bar blues with crisp 9th chords for a funk groove.
Easiest guitar key: E major
Chord shapes in E major (standard tuning)
Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.
How the chords work
Written in Roman numerals, this progression is I9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – IV9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – V9 – IV9 – I9 – V9 — in C major that is C9 – F9 – C9 – C9 – F9 – F9 – C9 – C9 – G9 – F9 – C9 – G9. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- I9 — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
- IV9 — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
- V9 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
Funky 9th-chord blues in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | C9F9C9C9F9F9C9C9G9F9C9G9 | Looper |
| G major | G9C9G9G9C9C9G9G9D9C9G9D9 | Looper |
| D major | D9G9D9D9G9G9D9D9A9G9D9A9 | Looper |
| A major | A9D9A9A9D9D9A9A9E9D9A9E9 | Looper |
| E major | E9A9E9E9A9A9E9E9B9A9E9B9 | Looper |
| B major | B9E9B9B9E9E9B9B9F#9E9B9F#9 | Looper |
| F# major | F#9B9F#9F#9B9B9F#9F#9C#9B9F#9C#9 | Looper |
| Db major | Db9Gb9Db9Db9Gb9Gb9Db9Db9Ab9Gb9Db9Ab9 | Looper |
| Ab major | Ab9Db9Ab9Ab9Db9Db9Ab9Ab9Eb9Db9Ab9Eb9 | Looper |
| Eb major | Eb9Ab9Eb9Eb9Ab9Ab9Eb9Eb9Bb9Ab9Eb9Bb9 | Looper |
| Bb major | Bb9Eb9Bb9Bb9Eb9Eb9Bb9Bb9F9Eb9Bb9F9 | Looper |
| F major | F9Bb9F9F9Bb9Bb9F9F9C9Bb9F9C9 | Looper |
Practice ideas
- Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
- Change keys with a capo: keep the E major shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
- Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the E major pentatonic or E major scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
- Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.
Similar progressions
- Royal Road full cadence IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi – ii7 – V7 – I – I
- Acoustic add9 loop Iadd9 – V – vi – IVadd9
- I–III7–IV–V I – III7 – IV – V
- Gospel walk-up I – ii – iii – IV – V
- I–V–♭VII–IV I – V – ♭VII – IV
- Suspended pop (Isus4–I–IV–V) Isus4 – I – IV – V
← Power-chord I–♭VI–♭VII · Funk vamp (I9–IV9) →
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Questions
What chords are in the I9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – IV9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – V9 – IV9 – I9 – V9 progression?
In E major: E9 – A9 – E9 – E9 – A9 – A9 – E9 – E9 – B9 – A9 – E9 – B9. In C major / A minor: C9 – F9 – C9 – C9 – F9 – F9 – C9 – C9 – G9 – F9 – C9 – G9. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – IV9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – V9 – IV9 – I9 – V9 on guitar?
E major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.