Learn how chords work together, common progressions, and how to analyze song structures. Master the harmonic foundation of popular music.
A chord progression is a sequence of chords played in succession. These progressions form the harmonic backbone of songs, creating movement, tension, and resolution that guides the listener through the musical journey. Understanding progressions helps you play songs, write your own music, and communicate with other musicians.
Musicians use Roman numerals to describe chord progressions in a key-independent way:
• I: Major chord (tonic - home)
• ii: Minor chord (supertonic)
• iii: Minor chord (mediant)
• IV: Major chord (subdominant)
• V: Major chord (dominant)
• vi: Minor chord (submediant)
• vii°: Diminished chord (leading tone)
I = C major, ii = D minor, iii = E minor
IV = F major, V = G major, vi = A minor
vii° = B diminished
Perhaps the most used progression in popular music:
In C Major: C - G - Am - F
Famous Examples:
• "Let It Be" - The Beatles
• "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
• "Someone Like You" - Adele
• "Despacito" - Luis Fonsi
Starting on the vi chord creates a more melancholic feel:
In C Major: Am - F - C - G
Famous Examples:
• "What's Up?" - 4 Non Blondes
• "Basket Case" - Green Day
• "Zombie" - The Cranberries
The foundation of rock, blues, and folk music:
In C Major: C - F - G
Famous Examples:
• "Wild Thing" - The Troggs
• "Louie Louie" - The Kingsmen
• Most 12-bar blues progressions
Chords that feel like "home" and provide resolution:
• I chord: The strongest tonic, feels most resolved
• vi chord: Relative minor, provides stable but melancholic resolution
• iii chord: Less common, but can substitute for I in some contexts
Chords that create tension and want to resolve to tonic:
• V chord: The strongest dominant, pulls strongly to I
• vii° chord: Contains the same tension notes as V7
• V7 chord: Adding the 7th increases the pull to tonic
Chords that provide movement away from tonic:
• IV chord: The primary subdominant, moves music forward
• ii chord: Often leads to V, creating ii-V-I progressions
• vi chord: Can function as subdominant when moving to IV or V
The most common structure in popular music:
Typical Structure:
Intro → Verse 1 → Chorus → Verse 2 → Chorus → Bridge → Chorus → Outro
Chord Considerations:
• Verses often use more subdominant chords (movement)
• Choruses typically emphasize tonic chords (memorable hook)
• Bridges introduce new harmonic material for contrast
A fundamental form in blues, rock, and jazz:
Basic 12-Bar Pattern:
I - I - I - I (4 bars of tonic)
IV - IV - I - I (2 bars subdominant, 2 bars tonic)
V - IV - I - I (dominant, subdominant, tonic resolution)
In C: C-C-C-C / F-F-C-C / G-F-C-C
Chords that temporarily tonicize other keys within the progression:
V/vi (Five of Six): A major chord built on the 3rd scale degree
In C Major: E major chord leading to A minor
Example Progression: C - E - Am - F
The E major (instead of E minor) creates stronger pull to Am
Borrowing chords from the parallel minor key:
• ♭VII chord: Bb in the key of C major (from C minor)
• ♭VI chord: Ab in the key of C major
• iv chord: F minor in the key of C major
1. Listen to popular songs and identify the chord progressions
2. Use Roman numeral analysis to describe what you hear
3. Start with simple songs using I-V-vi-IV patterns
4. Gradually work on more complex progressions
1. Learn a progression in one key (e.g., C major)
2. Transpose it to different keys using the same Roman numerals
3. Practice smooth voice leading between chord changes
4. Focus on common tones and minimal finger movement
1. Start with a I chord and experiment with different paths
2. Try variations of common progressions
3. Experiment with different rhythmic patterns
4. Record your progressions and analyze what makes them work
• Start simple: Master I-V-vi-IV before exploring complex progressions
• Voice leading: Smooth transitions between chords sound more professional
• Contrast sections: Use different progressions for verse vs. chorus
• Tension and release: Build tension with dominant chords, resolve to tonic
• Experiment with inversions: Play chords in different inversions for smoother bass lines
Once comfortable with basic progressions, explore these concepts:
• Tritone substitutions: Jazz harmony technique for sophisticated sound
• Chromatic mediants: Chords related by thirds instead of fifths
• Pedal tones: Sustained bass notes under changing harmonies
• Neapolitan chords: ♭II chords for dramatic effect
• Augmented sixth chords: Pre-dominant harmonies with strong pull to V