Folk · Beginner · minor key
Minor three-chord (i–iv–v)
i – iv – v – i — The natural-minor version of the three-chord trick: dark and folky.
Chord shapes in A minor (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 i – iv – v – i — in A minor that is Am – Dm – Em – Am. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home chord.
- iv — the minor four chord: darker and more emotional.
- v — a minor five: a softer, folkier pull back to the home chord.
Minor three-chord (i–iv–v) in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmDmEmAm | Looper |
| E minor | EmAmBmEm | Looper |
| B minor | BmEmF#mBm | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mBmC#mF#m | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mF#mG#mC#m | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mC#mD#mG#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmAbmBbmEbm | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmEbmFmBbm | Looper |
| F minor | FmBbmCmFm | Looper |
| C minor | CmFmGmCm | Looper |
| G minor | GmCmDmGm | Looper |
| D minor | DmGmAmDm | 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 A minor 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 A minor pentatonic or A natural minor or A blues 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
- i–v–iv–i i – v – iv – i
- Minor i–v vamp i – v
- Minor blues turnaround i7 – iv7 – v7 – i7
- i–v–♭VI–iv i – v – ♭VI – iv
- i–iv–v–♭VI i – iv – v – ♭VI
- i–iv–♭VII–i i – iv – ♭VII – i
← i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · Minor with major V (i–iv–V–i) →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – iv – v – i progression?
In A minor: Am – Dm – Em – Am. In C major / A minor: Am – Dm – Em – Am. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – iv – v – i on guitar?
A minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.