Popular Progressions
The most-used chord progressions in modern music — pick a key, hit play, drag into your DAW.
Root Key
Genre
Axis of Awesome
I–V–vi–IV
I
C
V
G
vi
Am
IV
F
HappyEnergy 4/5100–130 BPM
Sensitive Axis
vi–IV–I–V
vi
Am
IV
F
I
C
V
G
EmotionalEnergy 4/590–128 BPM
50s Doo-Wop
I–vi–IV–V
I
C
vi
Am
IV
F
V
G
NostalgicEnergy 3/570–110 BPM
Three-Chord Classic
I–IV–V
I
C
IV
F
V
G
HappyEnergy 4/5100–150 BPM
Ballad Lift
I–IV–vi–V
I
C
IV
F
vi
Am
V
G
WarmEnergy 2/560–90 BPM
Rising Anthem
IV–V–vi–I
IV
F
V
G
vi
Am
I
C
UpliftingEnergy 4/5100–130 BPM
Delayed Homecoming
V–vi–IV–I
V
G
vi
Am
IV
F
I
C
EmotionalEnergy 3/580–120 BPM
Stadium Swing
I–V–IV
I
C
V
G
IV
F
HappyEnergy 4/5110–140 BPM
Canon Walk
I–V–vi–iii–IV
I
C
V
G
vi
Am
iii
Em
IV
F
NostalgicEnergy 3/570–110 BPM
The Turnaround
ii–V–I
ii
Dm7
V
G7
I
Cmaj7
SmoothEnergy 2/580–160 BPM
Full Turnaround
vi–ii–V–I
vi
Am7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
I
Cmaj7
SmoothEnergy 2/580–160 BPM
Ladder Down
iii–vi–ii–V
iii
Em7
vi
Am7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
DreamyEnergy 2/570–140 BPM
Rhythm Changes
I–vi–ii–V
I
Cmaj7
vi
Am7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
WarmEnergy 3/5100–200 BPM
Stepwise Setup
IV–iii–ii–V
IV
Fmaj7
iii
Em7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
SmoothEnergy 2/570–130 BPM
Secondary Six
ii–V–I–VI7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
I
Cmaj7
VI7
A7
TenseEnergy 3/590–180 BPM
Mixolydian Drive
I–♭VII–IV
I
C
♭VII
A#
IV
F
UpliftingEnergy 4/5110–150 BPM
Arena Turn
I–V–♭VII–IV
I
C
V
G
♭VII
A#
IV
F
EpicEnergy 5/5110–150 BPM
Andalusian Descent
i–♭VII–♭VI
i
Cm
♭VII
A#
♭VI
G#
DarkEnergy 3/590–130 BPM
Epic Minor
i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII
i
Cm
♭VI
G#
♭III
D#
♭VII
A#
EpicEnergy 4/590–140 BPM
Two-Chord Vamp
I–IV–I–IV
I
C
IV
F
I
C
IV
F
WarmEnergy 3/590–140 BPM
Flat-Seven Swing
I–♭VII–I
I
C
♭VII
A#
I
C
HappyEnergy 4/5100–150 BPM
Festival Minor
i–VI–III–VII
i
Cm
VI
G#
III
D#
VII
A#
EpicEnergy 5/5120–132 BPM
Night Drive
i–VII–VI–VII
i
Cm
VII
A#
VI
G#
VII
A#
DarkEnergy 4/5118–128 BPM
Cinematic Fall
i–III–VII–VI
i
Cm
III
D#
VII
A#
VI
G#
DreamyEnergy 3/5100–126 BPM
Pendulum
I–V–vi–V
I
C
V
G
vi
Am
V
G
UpliftingEnergy 4/5118–130 BPM
Sunrise Loop
I–IV–vi–IV
I
C
IV
F
vi
Am
IV
F
DreamyEnergy 3/5115–128 BPM
Borrowed Heartache
I–iii–IV–iv
I
Cmaj7
iii
Em7
IV
Fmaj7
iv
Fm
EmotionalEnergy 2/560–95 BPM
Minor Plagal Cadence
IV–iv–I
IV
F
iv
Fm
I
C
NostalgicEnergy 2/560–100 BPM
Gospel Walk-Up
I–♯iv°–V
I
C
♯iv°
F#dim7
V
G7
UpliftingEnergy 3/570–110 BPM
Quiet Storm
vi–iii–IV–V
vi
Am7
iii
Em7
IV
Fmaj7
V
G7
WarmEnergy 3/575–105 BPM
Plagal Fade
I–IV–iv–I
I
Cmaj7
IV
Fmaj7
iv
Fm
I
Cmaj7
WarmEnergy 2/560–95 BPM