Progression Library
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27 progressions · 12 keys · free PDFs

Chord Progression LibraryThe progressions songs are built on

A collection of 27 common chord progressions, from the four chords of modern pop to the 12-bar blues and the jazz ii–V–I. Each page shows the numerals, why the progression works, songs that use it, its chords in all 12 keys, guitar voicings, the scale to play over every chord and a printable PDF chart.

Pop and rock loops

ProgressionNumeralsChords
Pop AnthemI – V – vi – IVCGAmFC major
50s ProgressionI – vi – IV – VCAmFGC major
Pop Drivevi – IV – I – VAmFCGC major
Rock LoopI – IV – V – IVCFGFC major

Blues

ProgressionNumeralsChords
12-Bar BluesI7 – I7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7C7C7C7C7F7F7C7C7G7F7C7G7C major
8-Bar BluesI7 – V7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – V7 – I7 – V7C7G7F7F7C7G7C7G7C major

Cadences and jazz

ProgressionNumeralsChords
Basic ResolveI – IV – V7 – ICFG7CC major
ii–V–Iii – V7 – I – IDmG7CCC major
Jazz TurnaroundI – vi – ii – V7CAmDmG7C major
Full Approachvi – ii – V7 – IAmDmG7CC major
Circle-of-Fifths ProgressionI – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V7 – ICFB°EmAmDmG7CC major
Line Clichéi – i(maj7) – i7 – i6AmAm(maj7)Am7Am6A minor

Minor progressions

ProgressionNumeralsChords
Andalusian Cadencei – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7AmGFE7A minor
Major Andalusian CadenceI – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7CB♭A♭G7C major
Minor Epici – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VIIAmFCGA minor
Minor Shuttlei – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VIIAmGFGA minor
Minor Basici – iv – V7 – iAmDmE7AmA minor
Minor Dramai – iv – ♭VI – V7AmDmFE7A minor
Aeolian Darki – ♭VI – ♭VII – iAmFGAmA minor

Modal grooves

ProgressionNumeralsChords
Mixolydian RockI – ♭VII – IV – ICB♭FCC Mixolydian
Mixolydian OpenI – IV – ♭VII – IVCFB♭FC Mixolydian
Dorian Groovei – IV – ♭VII – iAmDGAmA Dorian
Dorian Funki – ♭III – ♭VII – IVAmCGDA Dorian

Two-chord vamps

ProgressionNumeralsChords
Major VampI – IVCFC major
Minor Vampi – ivAmDmA minor
Rock VampI – ♭VIICB♭C Mixolydian
Tension VampI – V7CG7C major

Frequently asked questions

What is a chord progression?

A chord progression is the order a song plays its chords in. It is written in Roman numerals, the chords counted up the scale of the key: I is the home chord, IV and V the two strongest neighbours, and lower case means minor. Because numerals ignore the key, one progression works in all 12 keys.

What is the most common chord progression?

I–V–vi–IV, the four chords behind Let It Be, With or Without You and Someone Like You, followed by the 12-bar blues and the 50s progression I–vi–IV–V. In jazz it is ii–V–I.

How do I play a progression in another key?

Keep the numerals and move every chord by the same distance. Every progression page spells the chords in all 12 keys, and each key plays in the progression builder with a backing band.

What scale do I solo with over a progression?

The scale of the key fits the whole progression: the major scale for a major key, the natural minor for a minor key, the blues scale for a blues. Each page also lists the scale that fits each chord, the way the progression builder picks one.