Latin · Intermediate · minor key
Harmonic-minor i–iv–V7
i – iv – V7 – i — Tango, klezmer and gypsy-jazz flavour thanks to the V7.
Chord shapes in E 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 – V7 – i — in A minor that is Am – Dm – E7 – 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.
- V7 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
Harmonic-minor i–iv–V7 in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmDmE7Am | Looper |
| E minor | EmAmB7Em | Looper |
| B minor | BmEmF#7Bm | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mBmC#7F#m | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mF#mG#7C#m | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mC#mD#7G#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmAbmBb7Ebm | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmEbmF7Bbm | Looper |
| F minor | FmBbmC7Fm | Looper |
| C minor | CmFmG7Cm | Looper |
| G minor | GmCmD7Gm | Looper |
| D minor | DmGmA7Dm | 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 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 E minor pentatonic or E natural minor or E 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
- Tango i–♭VI7–V7 i – ♭VI7 – V7 – i
- i–iv–♭VI–V i – iv – ♭VI – V
- Minor blues i7 – i7 – i7 – i7 – iv7 – iv7 – i7 – i7 – ♭VI7 – V7 – i7 – V7
- Harmonic-minor i–V7 vamp i – V7
- Minor circle of fifths i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i
- Picardy third (i–iv–V–I) i – iv – V – I
← i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII–i stepping bass · Neapolitan (i–♭II–V–i) →
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Questions
What chords are in the i – iv – V7 – i progression?
In E minor: Em – Am – B7 – Em. In C major / A minor: Am – Dm – E7 – Am. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – iv – V7 – i on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.