Bluegrass I–IV–V Progression in E Major for Banjo
The E Major scale on banjo: the Bluegrass I–IV–V progression in its chords, with tab you can play along to in the interactive lesson.
Notes: E F# G# A B C# D#
Tuning: Standard (G D G B D)
Scale
Scale shapes
3NPS - First Position
D|--6---7---9-| B|--2---4---6-| G|--2---4---6-| D|--4---5---7-| G|--6---7---9-|
Basic Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | E | E G# B | 9 9 9 9 9 |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x x 2 2 x |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x 4 2 2 4 |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x 4 2 2 x |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x x 2 2 4 |
| III | G#m | G# B D# | 6 6 4 4 6 |
| IV | A | A C# E | x x 2 2 2 |
| IV | A | A C# E | x x x 2 2 |
| IV | A | A C# E | x 2 2 2 2 |
| IV | A | A C# E | x 2 2 2 x |
| V | B | B D# F# | x x x 0 4 |
| V | B | B D# F# | x 1 4 0 4 |
| V | B | B D# F# | x 4 4 0 1 |
| V | B | B D# F# | x 1 4 4 4 |
| VI | C#m | C# E G# | 11 11 9 9 11 |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 1 2 x x |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 1 2 4 4 |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 4 2 4 1 |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 4 2 4 4 |
Bluegrass I–IV–V (I–I–IV–I–I–I–V–I)
Chords: E – E – A – E – E – E – B – E
D|9-------------------13--16--9-------------------13--16--9-------|9-------------------13--16--9-------------------13--16--9-------| B|9-----------10--12----------9-----------10--12----------9-------|9-----------10--12----------9-----------10--12----------9-------| G|9-------11------------------9-------11------------------9-------|9-------11------------------9-------11------------------9-------| D|9---13----------------------9---13----------------------9---13--|9---13----------------------9---13----------------------9---13--| G|9---------------------------9---------------------------9-------|9---------------------------9---------------------------9-------| D|2-----------6---7---2-----------6---7---2-----------6---7---2---|9-------------------13--16--9-------------------13--16--9-------| B|2-------5-----------2-------5-----------2-------5-----------2---|9-----------10--12----------9-----------10--12----------9-------| G|2---6---------------2---6---------------2---6---------------2---|9-------11------------------9-------11------------------9-------| D|----------------------------------------------------------------|9---13----------------------9---13----------------------9---13--| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|9---------------------------9---------------------------9-------| D|9-------------------13--16--9-------------------13--16--9-------|9-------------------13--16--9-------------------13--16--9-------| B|9-----------10--12----------9-----------10--12----------9-------|9-----------10--12----------9-----------10--12----------9-------| G|9-------11------------------9-------11------------------9-------|9-------11------------------9-------11------------------9-------| D|9---13----------------------9---13----------------------9---13--|9---13----------------------9---13----------------------9---13--| G|9---------------------------9---------------------------9-------|9---------------------------9---------------------------9-------| D|4-------4---4-------4---4-------4---4-------4---4-------4---4---|9-------------------13--16--9-------------------13--16--9-------| B|0---4-------0---4-------0---4-------0---4-------0---4-------0---|9-----------10--12----------9-----------10--12----------9-------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|9-------11------------------9-------11------------------9-------| D|----------------------------------------------------------------|9---13----------------------9---13----------------------9---13--| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|9---------------------------9---------------------------9-------|
Seventh Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Emaj7 | E G# B D# | x x 1 0 1 |
| I | Emaj7 | E G# B D# | x 1 1 0 1 |
| I | Emaj7 | E G# B D# | x 1 1 0 x |
| I | Emaj7 | E G# B D# | x 2 1 0 1 |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x x 2 2 2 |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 2 |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 x |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x 4 2 2 2 |
| III | G#m7 | G# B D# F# | x x 1 0 4 |
| III | G#m7 | G# B D# F# | x 1 1 0 4 |
| III | G#m7 | G# B D# F# | x 1 4 0 4 |
| III | G#m7 | G# B D# F# | x 4 1 0 1 |
| IV | Amaj7 | A C# E G# | x 2 1 2 2 |
| IV | Amaj7 | A C# E G# | x 2 1 2 x |
| IV | Amaj7 | A C# E G# | x x 1 2 2 |
| IV | Amaj7 | A C# E G# | 6 2 1 2 2 |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 1 |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 x |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x x 2 0 1 |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 4 |
| VI | C#m7 | C# E G# B | x 2 1 0 2 |
| VI | C#m7 | C# E G# B | x 2 1 0 x |
| VI | C#m7 | C# E G# B | x x 1 0 2 |
| VI | C#m7 | C# E G# B | x 2 4 2 2 |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 1 |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 x |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x x 2 2 1 |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 4 |
Bluegrass I–IV–V (I–I–IV–I–I–I–V–I)
Chords: Emaj7 – Emaj7 – Amaj7 – Emaj7 – Emaj7 – Emaj7 – B7 – Emaj7
D|1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1---|1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1---| B|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| D|2-------------------6---2-------------------6---2---------------|1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1---| B|2-----------4---5-------2-----------4---5-------2-----------4---|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|1---1---4---------------1---1---4---------------1---1---4-------|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|2-----------------------2-----------------------2---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| D|1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1---|1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1---| B|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| D|1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1---|1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1-----------4---6---1---| B|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|2-------------------2-------------------2-------------------2---|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
Ninth Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Emaj9 | E G# B D# F# | x x 1 0 4 |
| I | Emaj9 | E G# B D# F# | x 1 1 0 4 |
| I | Emaj9 | E G# B D# F# | x 4 1 0 1 |
| I | Emaj9 | E G# B D# F# | x 4 1 0 x |
| II | F#m9 | F# A C# E G# | x 2 1 2 x |
| II | F#m9 | F# A C# E G# | x x 1 2 2 |
| II | F#m9 | F# A C# E G# | x 4 1 2 2 |
| II | F#m9 | F# A C# E G# | x 4 1 2 x |
| III | G#m7b9 | G# B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 x |
| III | G#m7b9 | G# B D# F# A | x x 2 0 1 |
| III | G#m7b9 | G# B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 4 |
| III | G#m7b9 | G# B D# F# A | x 4 2 0 1 |
| IV | Amaj9 | A C# E G# B | x x 2 0 2 |
| IV | Amaj9 | A C# E G# B | x 2 1 0 x |
| IV | Amaj9 | A C# E G# B | x 2 2 0 x |
| IV | Amaj9 | A C# E G# B | x x 1 0 2 |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 x |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x x 2 2 1 |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x x 4 2 1 |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 4 |
| VI | C#m9 | C# E G# B D# | x x 1 0 1 |
| VI | C#m9 | C# E G# B D# | x 1 1 0 x |
| VI | C#m9 | C# E G# B D# | x 2 1 0 1 |
| VI | C#m9 | C# E G# B D# | x 1 1 0 2 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x 1 2 2 2 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 1 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x x 2 2 2 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 x |
Bluegrass I–IV–V (I–I–IV–I–I–I–V–I)
Chords: Emaj9 – Emaj9 – Amaj9 – Emaj9 – Emaj9 – Emaj9 – B9 – Emaj9
D|4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4---|4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4---| B|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| D|2-------2---6---2-------2---6---2-------2---6---2-------2---6---|4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4---| B|0---2-----------0---2-----------0---2-----------0---2-----------|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|2---------------2---------------2---------------2---------------|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| D|4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4---|4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4---| B|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| D|--------------------4---7-----------------------4---7-----------|4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4-----------4---6---4---| B|2-----------2---4-----------2-----------2---4-----------2-------|0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---0---4-----------0---| G|2-------2-------------------2-------2-------------------2-------|1-------------------1-------------------1-------------------1---| D|1---4-----------------------1---4-----------------------1---4---|----------------------------------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|