Chord Progressions
Pop Progressions
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| I-IV-V |
C-F-G |
C |
Classic Rock/Pop Progression |
| I-IV-V |
G-C-D |
G |
Classic Rock/Pop Progression |
| I-IV-V |
D-G-A |
D |
Classic Rock/Pop Progression |
| I-V-vi-IV |
C-G-Am-F |
C |
Common Pop Progression |
| I-V-vi-IV |
G-D-Em-C |
G |
Common Pop Progression |
| I-V-vi-IV |
D-A-Bm-G |
D |
Common Pop Progression |
Classical & Baroque Progressions
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| I-IV-V-IV-I |
C-F-G-F-C |
C |
Church Cadence (Plagal Cadence) |
| I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V |
C-G-Am-Em-F-C-F-G |
C |
Pachelbel’s Canon Progression |
| I-iii-IV-V |
C-Em-F-G |
C |
Classic Resolution |
| I-vi-ii-V |
C-Am-Dm-G |
C |
50s Progression / Jazz Turnaround |
| I-IV-I-V |
C-F-C-G |
C |
Cadential Progression |
| I-IV-ii-V |
C-F-Dm-G |
C |
Jazz Turnaround with Subdominant |
| I-IV-vi-V |
C-F-Am-G |
C |
Pop/Jazz Variation |
| ii-V-I |
Dm-G-C |
C |
Jazz Standard Resolution |
Storytelling & Emotional Progressions
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| I-IV-vi-V |
C-F-Am-G |
C |
Storyteller Progression |
| I-IV-vi-V |
D-A-Bm-G |
D |
Storyteller Progression |
| i-iv-v-i |
Am-Dm-Em-Am |
Am |
Minor Narrative |
| i-iv-v-i |
Em-Am-Bm-Em |
Em |
Minor Narrative |
| i-iv-i |
Am-Dm-Am |
Am |
Minor Plagal Cadence |
| i-iv-i |
Em-Am-Em |
Em |
Minor Plagal Cadence |
| i-iv-v |
Am-Dm-Em |
Am |
Minor Build-up |
| i-iv-v |
Em-Am-Bm |
Em |
Minor Build-up |
Dark & Minor Progressions
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| i-VI-VII |
Am-F-G |
Am |
Dark Uplifting |
| i-VI-VII |
Em-C-D |
Em |
Dark Uplifting |
| i-VII-VI-VII |
Am-G-F-G |
Am |
Suspenseful Loop |
| i-VII-VI-VII |
Em-D-C-D |
Em |
Suspenseful Loop |
| i-iv-VII |
Am-Dm-G |
Am |
Dark Ballad / Minor Descent |
| i-iv-VII |
Em-Am-D |
Em |
Dark Ballad |
| i-VI-III-VII |
Am-F-C-G |
Am |
Brooding Sequence / Minor Epic |
| i-VI-III-VII |
Em-C-G-D |
Em |
Minor Epic |
Spanish & Andalusian Progressions
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| i-bVII-bVI-V |
Am-G-F-E |
Am |
Andalusian Cadence |
| i-bVII-bVI-V |
Em-D-C-B |
Em |
Andalusian Cadence |
| i-bVII-bVI-V |
Dm-C-Bb-A |
Dm |
Andalusian Cadence |
| i-bVII-bVI-V |
Gm-F-Eb-D |
Gm |
Andalusian Cadence |
Trap & Hip-Hop Progressions
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| i-bVI-i-v |
Am-F-Am-Em |
Am |
Trap Progression |
| i-bVI-i-v |
Em-C-Em-Bm |
Em |
Trap Progression |
| i-bVI-i-v |
Dm-Bb-Dm-Am |
Dm |
Trap Progression |
Secondary Dominants & Modulations
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| IV-V-III-vi |
F-G-Em-Am |
C |
Secondary Dominants |
Additional Classifications
| Sequence |
Example |
Key |
Description |
| VI-VII-i-i |
Am-Bm-Em-Em |
Am |
Resolution to Minor |
| VI-VII-i-i |
Em-F#m-Bm-Bm |
Em |
Resolution to Minor |
| ii-v-i |
Dm-G-Am |
Am |
Minor Resolution |
| ii-v-i |
Am-Dm-Em |
Am |
Minor Resolution |
'Chord Progressions' Tabs, Articles, Tips
Last updated on 23 Jan 2024
Published on 23 Jan 2024