Chord progressions

18 common chord progressions, each written out in all twelve keys, with chord shapes and an explanation of why each one sounds the way it does.

A chord progression is not a song but its frame. The same four chords carry hundreds of pieces — what separates them is the melody on top, not the harmony underneath. Know the twenty common progressions and you can play along with most songs without ever having heard them.

The progressions

I–V–vi–IVC – G – Am – FThe four chords vi–IV–I–VAm – F – C – GThe same four, starting minor I–vi–IV–VC – Am – F – GThe fifties progression ii–V–IDm7 – G7 – Cmaj7The jazz cadence iiø–V–iBm7b5 – E7 – Am7The minor jazz cadence I–IV–VC – F – GThe three primary chords I–I–I–I–IV–IV–I–I–V–IV–I–VC7 – F7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7The twelve-bar blues i–i–i–i–iv–iv–i–i–V–iv–i–VAm7 – Dm7 – Am7 – E7 – Dm7 – Am7 – E7The minor blues i–iv–vAm – Dm – EmThe three primary chords in minor i–VII–VI–VAm – G – F – EThe Andalusian cadence i–VII–VI–VIIAm – G – F – GThe minor loop I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–VC – G – Am – Em – F – C – F – GThe Pachelbel canon I–vi–ii–VCmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7The turnaround I–♭VII–IVC – Bb – FThe Mixolydian turn I–iii–IV–VC – Em – F – GThe rising progression I–IV–I–VC – F – C – GThe alternating progression vi–V–IV–VAm – G – F – GThe lamenting progression I–V–IV–VC – G – F – GThe rock loop

By key

If you have a particular key in mind: here are its seven chords and every progression written out in it.

C major G major D major A major E major B major F major Bb major Eb major Ab major Db major F# major A minor E minor B minor F# minor C# minor G# minor D minor G minor C minor F minor Bb minor Eb minor

Anotona does this for you

Photograph a page of sheet music or play the melody — Anotona finds the key, engraves the notes and transposes them into any other. Free.

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Every note on this page is computed, not typed in — following the rule that also makes F# major spell its seventh degree E#, not F.