Tutorial · 4 of 5 · Theory
How to build a chord progression
Some chord sequences show up in thousands of songs because they simply work. Knowing these formulas gives you a safe starting point, and knowing how to vary them makes the song your own.
Think in degrees, not names
The progressions below are written in degrees (I, IV, V…), as in the harmonic field tutorial. That way the same formula works in any key. The examples are in C major or A minor to keep things simple.
The most used progressions
| Degrees | In C / A minor | Where you hear it |
|---|---|---|
| I – V – vi – IV | C – G – Am – F | Pop and rock; it's the basis of the Beatles' "Let It Be" |
| I – vi – IV – V | C – Am – F – G | 1950s and '60s ballads, such as "Stand by Me" |
| vi – IV – I – V | Am – F – C – G | Current pop, with a more melancholic mood |
| ii – V – I | Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 | Jazz and bossa nova; the most important cadence in jazz |
| i – VII – VI – V | Am – G – F – E | Andalusian cadence, typical of flamenco |
| I – IV – I – V | C – F – C – G | Folk music and country |
The 12-bar blues
The blues uses only three chords, all with a seventh, spread over 12 bars. In A:
| A7 | A7 | A7 | A7 |
| D7 | D7 | A7 | A7 |
| E7 | D7 | A7 | E7 |
The E7 in the last bar is the "turnaround" that leads back to the beginning. This form is the basis of the blues, of 1950s rock and of a lot of jazz.
Five ways to make a progression your own
- Swap triads for seventh chords. C – Am – F – G becomes Cmaj7 – Am7 – Fmaj7 – G7. The same path, with a more sophisticated sound.
- Use substitute chords. Chords with the same function can replace each other: instead of F (IV), try Dm (ii). Instead of C (I), try Am (vi).
- Change the harmonic rhythm. Instead of one chord per bar, give the first one two bars and half a bar to each of the others.
- Create a bass line. Use inversions so the bass moves stepwise: C – G/B – Am – F. The bass goes down C, B, A, F.
- Borrow a chord. Use a chord from the parallel minor key. In C major, an Fm instead of F gives a nostalgic touch often used in ballads.
A roadmap to get started
- Choose a comfortable key for your instrument or voice.
- Start on the I and end on the V, so the progression asks to start over.
- Fill the middle with chords from the harmonic field.
- Play it in a loop and change one chord at a time until you like it.