CHORD PROGRESSIONS TO TRY
🎶 Doo-Wop Progression: 1 – 6 – 4 – 5
Examples:
• "I'm the One" – DJ Khaled
• "Perfect" – Ed Sheeran
• "ME!" – Taylor Swift
Key Chords
C Major C – Am – F – G7
G Major G – Em – C – D7
A Major A – F#m – D – E
F Major F – Dm – Bb – C7
A Minor Am – F – Dm – E7
Just using the dominant 7 on the V chord gives it a little movement without
jazzing everything up.
🎻 Pachelbel’s Progression: 1 – 5 – 6 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 4 – 5
Example:
• "Memories" – Maroon 5
Key Chords
C Major C – G – Am – Dm – F – C – F – G
G Major G – D – Em – Am – C – G – C – D
D Major D – A – Bm – Em – G – D – G – A
Optional spice: Try a G7 or D7 at the end instead of plain G or D if you want that
little lift back to the tonic.
🎷 2 – 5 – 1 Progression
Example:
• "Sunday Morning" – Maroon 5
Key Chords
C Major Dm – G – C
G Major Am – D7 – G
F Major Gm – C – F
Bb Major Cm – F7 – Bb
In minor keys, the ii chord is usually half-diminished, and the V often
dominant 7:
Key Chords
A Minor Bm7b5 – E7 – Am
E Minor F#m7b5 – B7 – Em
D Minor Em7b5 – A7 – Dm
🌑 1– 6– 7 – 1 Progression
Mood: Cinematic, dreamy, emotional. Heard in alt-R&B, indie pop, and
moody hip-hop.
Song Artist Key Chords
Bad Religion Frank Ocean C minor Cm – Ab – Bb – Cm
See You Again Tyler, the Creator B minor Bm – G – A – Bm
Love Lockdown Kanye West Eb minor Ebm – Cb – Db – Ebm
Redbone Childish Gambino Db major Db – Bbm – Gb – Ab
🎧 1 – 5 – 6 – 4 (Pop Gold)
Description: Ultra-common in modern pop, anthemic choruses, and ballads. Think "With
or Without You" (U2), "Let It Go" (Frozen), or "Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem/
Rihanna).
Key Chords
C Major C – G – Am – F
G Major G – D – Em – C
A Major A – E – F#m – D
Optional spice: Try a G/B or Fmaj7 for smoother voice leading.
🌙 6 – 4 – 1 – 5 (Sad & Nostalgic)
Description: Melancholy and emotional. Classic for ballads or breakup songs. See
"Apologize" (OneRepublic), "If I Ain’t Got You" (Alicia Keys).
Key Chords
C Major Am – F – C – G
A Minor Am – F – C – E7
G Major Em – C – G – D
Optional spice: Sub a G7 or E7 for tension.
💿 1 – b7 – 4 (Soul / Gospel / Indie)
Description: Strong, gospel-y, and emotional. Think D’Angelo, Anderson .Paak, Daniel
Caesar.
Key Chords
C Major C – Bb – F
G Major G–F–C
D Major D–C–G
Optional spice: Use maj7 on the 1 and sus2 or sus4 on the 4 for vibe.
🌀 4 – 5 – 3 – 6 (Unexpected & Smooth)
Description: Smooth R&B and modern soul vibes. Feels like a
detour from standard pop. Kinda Neptunes-esque or Frank
Ocean-ish.
Key Chords
C Major F – G – Em – Am
G Major C – D – Bm – Em
Optional spice: Try G13, Em7, Am9 if going vibey.
🪩 1 – 4 – b7 (Funky, Retro, 70s-ish)
Description: Great for grooves, funk, and retro-styled choruses.
Think "Ain’t Nobody" (Chaka Khan), or "Get Lucky"(Daft
Punk).
Key Chords
C Major C – F – Bb
G Major G–C–F
Optional spice: Try Fmaj7 or Bb9 for tasty chords.
