How to Create Chord Progressions

How to Create Chord Progressions Learn to build emotional, catchy progressions easily!

What is a Chord Progression?

[{"selector":"#anim-997f7f7f-7013-4626-a3d3-b070625ace99","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0070b4db-cf9b-4015-8864-725d6b919032","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2012.88776%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-accb578a-919e-46f6-9b31-5446d7759a1f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8649f15f-295b-4bce-97f9-4a600f6d6c8b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e924e6b-75ed-4daa-a811-0de22cd112cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 339.40966%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e545eee1-7935-4f64-8d47-b287e1888067","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] It’s a sequence of chords that form the harmony of a song. Understand the basics Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-448af564-e7ad-492f-a74b-2a9e459f7221 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88558da4-e248-46ad-8437-6b8c4dd64466","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0706e80-7f66-401c-ac1d-598004f41a4b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2741.10776%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b100f57-c697-4e1f-85ca-b8ddba9b6da0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-933bff0e-1ca0-4b23-ab6f-ad2465565e88","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 398.19113%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Use the Nashville Number System Number each scale degree: I–ii–iii–IV–V–vi–vii°. Helps in any key! Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-93bb2fdf-4e88-487d-8652-fa14632c2364 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-933cf492-bece-4bf0-a0fe-9f4c33ea6ef9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c96c2f6-f73a-49de-88f9-fef5da7e1f4e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2632.82873%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec335acd-8a4d-4bd7-888a-f4c47fa6940c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c88ca6a9-30ae-433b-9298-a028ff74a8ed","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 302.84237%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Common Progressions to Try Start with I–V–vi–IV or I–IV–V. These are used in thousands of songs!

[{"selector":"#anim-f8cef703-d788-41f3-ac2c-fa067c72a9cf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5770485-6bb5-4ee3-b250-e454e94ce149","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fc04ec8-32ee-48db-816e-fca77d5b8960","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 267.95857%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11616361-34a2-4507-a751-284b546376ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56bd2d0c-8b57-411a-97c7-a2a1a243b1c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2678.2832%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Match Progression with Emotion Major = happy, Minor = sad. Try vi–IV–I–V for emotional touch.

[{"selector":"#anim-529c6ca6-49cf-4e25-b013-3417fdd8cc44 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ac50eda-d6d1-4f0b-91ac-51271ec43565","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dadc387-803e-4a5a-8cad-2018810b8392","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2246.4649%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11c66c50-1bdd-4a08-be68-bc0931df05fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f240891-ae6a-45c4-9dd9-6da178ff094c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 348.78462%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cd2ba40-294a-443b-b517-7bb03feb09fc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] Use Chord Wheel Visual tool to see related chords and key relationships. Explore a music theory book Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-c349a42f-c8cb-4bfd-a8ab-d300920ad52d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fe3f327-9521-4cc6-a05b-62558df0cda8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20d64ac2-e191-49a5-a9d8-34e6c7815d3d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 265.63303%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b1bc07b-cf59-4de1-b687-dbd77492c90d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e466e016-ed21-402f-9e47-966a5ff56a92","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2732.82873%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Keep It Simple Most hit songs use only 3–4 chords. Don’t overcomplicate it.

[{"selector":"#anim-81206c96-ef85-4576-9bab-fb5595982421 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3970ff3-9659-4fda-bb3f-bb95493b3000","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2b49830-7a2e-4389-bd22-41eb103495c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2701.01043%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5a53848-7f4e-45ca-82c7-eb2f479480e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e62e625-061e-4a0b-a080-5de570b63b5a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 270.28427%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Try Progression Generator Tool Use apps like Autochords or Hooktheory to get ideas instantly.

[{"selector":"#anim-92c431a0-ccd1-43b9-8921-b56d43341c22 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e361dae9-46e0-41f4-95a9-150fc41b95e4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aac835d1-d1fe-4b42-a2fb-0915da4e8a4d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2578.2832%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dfa78d4b-f705-42b5-9d5f-26680bb60ead","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa57baf6-ca46-4441-a875-ebb3fd01ba87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 337.72602%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Apply on Piano or Guitar Try your progression on both piano & guitar to hear it differently.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a4abc54-2d8c-4cef-8160-05ccb6366ec4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0534994-8743-4ae2-8dc2-06c223b2218a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9729035-f0cc-4443-bfde-b5460e689f26","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d14c6530-179a-413e-a026-6a45b8b1fd06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2255.55596%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b6c5c3d-b1ae-4db1-b05f-b79eb06f57bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-832c0cc1-2621-41a2-a002-af70c4bf9090","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 493.54003%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More at frnmusic.com Explore full guides, tips, and chord examples for songwriting! Visit frnmusic.com Learn more