Theory · glossary
Chord progression
Also called progression, chord changes, chord sequence
A chord progression is the series of chords a song or section moves through, usually a short pattern that repeats. C, G, Am, F is a progression, written I V vi IV in Roman numerals so it can be played in any key.
A chord progression is the harmony under a song: which chords play, in what order, and for how long. Many pop songs loop four chords, one per bar, under a verse or chorus, and a new section often brings a new pattern.
Musicians write progressions in Roman numerals, counting each chord’s root up the scale from the key’s first note, so one pattern works in every key. Uppercase means major, lowercase means minor and ° marks a diminished chord. I V vi IV is C G Am F in C major and G D Em C in G major. A few to try in C major and A minor:
| Chords | Numerals | Often heard in |
|---|---|---|
| C G Am F | I V vi IV | pop ballads and anthems |
| Am F C G | i VI III VII (A minor) | minor-key pop |
| Dm G C | ii V I | jazz standards |
| C F G | I IV V | blues, early rock and roll, folk |
The first two use the same four chords starting in a different place, and that alone moves where the song feels at home.
The last two chords of a phrase form a cadence. G to C (V to I) is the strongest one in C major and sounds like arriving home. End a phrase on G and it hangs in the air, waiting for an answer.
How often the chords change is called harmonic rhythm. A new chord every beat feels busy; one chord every two bars feels calm and gives a melody room.
Picking a progression is often the first step in writing a song. The 1-5-6-4 chord progression explains why so many hits use one pattern, the 12 most common chord progressions lists more, and the online chord player lets you tap any of them out in all 24 keys. On Gelato Chord, seven keys always play the seven chords of your key, each labeled with its name, so I V vi IV in C major is the C, G, Am and F keys pressed in turn.
Updated . All terms · Try the online chord pads