REFERENCE

FAMOUS CHORD PROGRESSIONS

The handful of progressions that most popular music is built on — in Roman numerals so they work in any key, with the well-known songs that use each one, and a button to hear it.

Tap “Hear it” on any progression
HOW TO READ THIS

PROGRESSIONS, FUNCTIONS AND KEYS

A chord progression is a sequence of chords. Written in Roman numerals it describes the function of each chord — its job in creating and releasing tension — rather than a fixed set of letters, so the same progression plays in every key. I is home. IV and ii pull away from home. V and vii° create the strongest tension and want to resolve back to I. vi is the minor shadow of I. Almost every progression here is a particular route through those functions.

None of these are owned by anyone. A progression is not copyrightable; only a specific melody, lyric and recording are. The songs listed under each one are simply well-known examples — many share the same four chords and sound nothing alike, because the song lives in the melody, the rhythm and the arrangement. To search a particular song, or browse every song here that uses a given progression, open the Song Chords Database.

To work backwards from chords you already have, use the Chord Progression Analyzer. To generate a fresh one in a chosen mood, use the Chord Progression Generator. To move one to a new key, use the Chord Transposer. The theory behind why these routes work is in the Cloud Atelier music guides.