Chord Progressions
The handful of chord patterns behind most of the songs you know. Pick one to hear it, see the guitar and piano shapes, and play it in any of the twelve keys.
Major-key progressions
Bright, resolved and endlessly loopable — the backbone of pop, rock and jazz.
The Four-Chord SongI – V – vi – IVThe four chords behind an astonishing share of modern pop — cheerful on top, wistful underneath.PopRockCountryThe Three-Chord SongI – IV – VThe three chords at the root of Western popular music — every key defined in one gesture.FolkRockCountryThe 50s ProgressionI – vi – IV – VThe doo-wop loop — the sound of slow dances and letterman jackets.Doo-wopSoulPopThe Sensitive Progressionvi – IV – I – VThe four-chord loop started on the minor chord — instant emotional weight.PopPop-punkEmoThe ii–V–Iii7 – V7 – Imaj7The single most important cadence in jazz — tension wound tight, then released.JazzBossa novaSoulRhythm Changes TurnaroundImaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7The turnaround at the heart of "I Got Rhythm" and a thousand jazz tunes.JazzBebopSwingThe 12-Bar BluesI7 – IV7 – V7 (12 bars)The twelve-bar form that shaped a century of popular music.BluesRock & rollR&BThe Royal RoadIV – V – iii – viThe 王道進行 — the bright-then-bittersweet turn behind J-pop and anime.J-popAnimeCity popPachelbel's CanonI – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – VThe eight-chord descent that has outlived three centuries of pop songs.ClassicalPopRock
Minor-key progressions
Darker and more dramatic — cinematic loops and the great minor cadences.
The Epic Minor Loopi – VI – III – VIIFour chords of minor-key grandeur — the sound of film trailers and power ballads.Film scoreRockEDMThe Andalusian Cadencei – VII – VI – VThe dramatic flamenco descent — four steps down to a blazing major V.FlamencoClassicalSurfThe Minor Blues Cadencei – iv – VThe three-chord cadence of minor blues and classical alike, lit by a major V.BluesClassicalRockThe Minor ii–V–iiiø7 – V7 – iThe minor-key cousin of the great jazz cadence — darker, and even more inevitable.JazzBossa novaFilm noir