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

Pop
I
C
V
G
vi
Am
IV
F
HappyEnergy 4/5100–130 BPM

Sensitive Axis

vi–IV–I–V

Pop
vi
Am
IV
F
I
C
V
G
EmotionalEnergy 4/590–128 BPM

50s Doo-Wop

I–vi–IV–V

Pop
I
C
vi
Am
IV
F
V
G
NostalgicEnergy 3/570–110 BPM

Three-Chord Classic

I–IV–V

Pop
I
C
IV
F
V
G
HappyEnergy 4/5100–150 BPM

Ballad Lift

I–IV–vi–V

Pop
I
C
IV
F
vi
Am
V
G
WarmEnergy 2/560–90 BPM

Rising Anthem

IV–V–vi–I

Pop
IV
F
V
G
vi
Am
I
C
UpliftingEnergy 4/5100–130 BPM

Delayed Homecoming

V–vi–IV–I

Pop
V
G
vi
Am
IV
F
I
C
EmotionalEnergy 3/580–120 BPM

Stadium Swing

I–V–IV

Pop
I
C
V
G
IV
F
HappyEnergy 4/5110–140 BPM

Canon Walk

I–V–vi–iii–IV

Pop
I
C
V
G
vi
Am
iii
Em
IV
F
NostalgicEnergy 3/570–110 BPM

The Turnaround

ii–V–I

Jazz
ii
Dm7
V
G7
I
Cmaj7
SmoothEnergy 2/580–160 BPM

Full Turnaround

vi–ii–V–I

Jazz
vi
Am7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
I
Cmaj7
SmoothEnergy 2/580–160 BPM

Ladder Down

iii–vi–ii–V

Jazz
iii
Em7
vi
Am7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
DreamyEnergy 2/570–140 BPM

Rhythm Changes

I–vi–ii–V

Jazz
I
Cmaj7
vi
Am7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
WarmEnergy 3/5100–200 BPM

Stepwise Setup

IV–iii–ii–V

Jazz
IV
Fmaj7
iii
Em7
ii
Dm7
V
G7
SmoothEnergy 2/570–130 BPM

Secondary Six

ii–V–I–VI7

Jazz
ii
Dm7
V
G7
I
Cmaj7
VI7
A7
TenseEnergy 3/590–180 BPM

Mixolydian Drive

I–♭VII–IV

Rock
I
C
♭VII
A#
IV
F
UpliftingEnergy 4/5110–150 BPM

Arena Turn

I–V–♭VII–IV

Rock
I
C
V
G
♭VII
A#
IV
F
EpicEnergy 5/5110–150 BPM

Andalusian Descent

i–♭VII–♭VI

Rock
i
Cm
♭VII
A#
♭VI
G#
DarkEnergy 3/590–130 BPM

Epic Minor

i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII

Rock
i
Cm
♭VI
G#
♭III
D#
♭VII
A#
EpicEnergy 4/590–140 BPM

Two-Chord Vamp

I–IV–I–IV

Rock
I
C
IV
F
I
C
IV
F
WarmEnergy 3/590–140 BPM

Flat-Seven Swing

I–♭VII–I

Rock
I
C
♭VII
A#
I
C
HappyEnergy 4/5100–150 BPM

Festival Minor

i–VI–III–VII

EDM
i
Cm
VI
G#
III
D#
VII
A#
EpicEnergy 5/5120–132 BPM

Night Drive

i–VII–VI–VII

EDM
i
Cm
VII
A#
VI
G#
VII
A#
DarkEnergy 4/5118–128 BPM

Cinematic Fall

i–III–VII–VI

EDM
i
Cm
III
D#
VII
A#
VI
G#
DreamyEnergy 3/5100–126 BPM

Pendulum

I–V–vi–V

EDM
I
C
V
G
vi
Am
V
G
UpliftingEnergy 4/5118–130 BPM

Sunrise Loop

I–IV–vi–IV

EDM
I
C
IV
F
vi
Am
IV
F
DreamyEnergy 3/5115–128 BPM

Borrowed Heartache

I–iii–IV–iv

Soul
I
Cmaj7
iii
Em7
IV
Fmaj7
iv
Fm
EmotionalEnergy 2/560–95 BPM

Minor Plagal Cadence

IV–iv–I

Soul
IV
F
iv
Fm
I
C
NostalgicEnergy 2/560–100 BPM

Gospel Walk-Up

I–♯iv°–V

Soul
I
C
♯iv°
F#dim7
V
G7
UpliftingEnergy 3/570–110 BPM

Quiet Storm

vi–iii–IV–V

Soul
vi
Am7
iii
Em7
IV
Fmaj7
V
G7
WarmEnergy 3/575–105 BPM

Plagal Fade

I–IV–iv–I

Soul
I
Cmaj7
IV
Fmaj7
iv
Fm
I
Cmaj7
WarmEnergy 2/560–95 BPM