Blues · Beginner · minor key
Minor plagal loop
i – iv – i – iv — A slow minor rocking motion — great for soloing practice.
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 – i – iv — in A minor that is Am – Dm – Am – Dm. 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.
Minor plagal loop in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmDmAmDm | Looper |
| E minor | EmAmEmAm | Looper |
| B minor | BmEmBmEm | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mBmF#mBm | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mF#mC#mF#m | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mC#mG#mC#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmAbmEbmAbm | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmEbmBbmEbm | Looper |
| F minor | FmBbmFmBbm | Looper |
| C minor | CmFmCmFm | Looper |
| G minor | GmCmGmCm | Looper |
| D minor | DmGmDmGm | 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
- Minor blues turnaround i7 – iv7 – v7 – i7
- Minor i–iv i – iv
- Minor blues i7 – i7 – i7 – i7 – iv7 – iv7 – i7 – i7 – ♭VI7 – V7 – i7 – V7
- Minor with major V (i–iv–V–i) i – iv – V – i
- Minor three-chord (i–iv–v) i – iv – v – i
- i–v–iv–i i – v – iv – i
← i–♭VII–♭VIsus2–V · The pop "axis" progression →
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Questions
What chords are in the i – iv – i – iv progression?
In E minor: Em – Am – Em – Am. In C major / A minor: Am – Dm – Am – Dm. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – iv – i – iv on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.