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Verse-chorus pair
- In practically every case, a verse-chorus pair works nicely when the listener senses the music moving from a “fragile” state to a “strong” state. That might mean, for example, a chord progression that sounds wandering and hard to pin down regarding key, moving to a progression that’s shorter and much clearer with regard to key.
www.secretsofsongwriting.com/2017/01/18/5-verse-chorus-chord-progression-pairs/
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- C – G – Am – F Progression I – V – vi – IV. Imagine this: A chord progression that lets you play thousands of the catchiest records in the history of music.
- G – C – D Progression I – IV – V. As a beginner, you might have already learned the conventional way to play the G major, C major, and D major chords separately.
- C – Am – F – G Progression I – vi – IV – V. This chord progression is also known as the ‘50s progression for being widely used in the 1950s and the early 1960s.
- Am – F – C – G Progression i – VI – III – VII. Am-F-C-G is another chord progression that’s a must-learn to build a good chord progression vocabulary.
- F, B♭ and C. Example: Brad Paisley’s “All I Wanted Was a Car” - Key of F. This catchy riff is broken up into an arpeggiated pattern on one of Brad Paisley’s Telecasters, which sounds amazing.
- C♯m, E, B and A. Example: Hillsong’s “Lord of Lords” - Key of E. Hearing a C♯m in the key of E is a common occurrence in the world of contemporary worship music.
- F♯m, B and C♯ Example: Joe Satriani’s “House Full of Bullets” - Key of F♯ If you listen to “House Full of Bullets” (one of my favorites by Joe Satriani) you can hear that he’s uses a repetitive pattern made up of single notes played on the sixth and fifth strings that isn’t a chord progression as much as it is a 12-bar blues style riff that follows the three chords listed.
- E, A, and B. Example: Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” - Key of E. Speaking of the 12 bar blues, “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash is one of the more memorable uses of the E, A and B chord progression, though the likes of Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters would probably take precedence.
Pop. Free Lessons. Get free weekly lessons, practice tips, and downloadable resources to your inbox! Email* Whether you’re just curious about chord progressions as a beginner or if you’re looking to expand your harmonic palette as a songwriter, today’s Quick Tip on The 11 Most Important Piano Chord Progressions has you covered!
- What Is A Chord Progression?
- The I IV V (1 4 5) Chord Progression
- The I V Vi IV (1 5 6 4) Chord Progression
- The Vi IV I V Chord Progression
- The II V I (2 5 1) Chord Progression
- The Vi II V I (6 2 5 1) Chord Progression
- Diatonic vs. Modal Interchange Chords
- The ♭Vi ♭Vii I Cadence
- The (Careful How You Use It) I III IV IV Chord Progression
First things first, let’s talk about what a chord progression is before we get into common chord progressions. Simply put, it’s the order in which chords are played in a song. And while there are countless chord progressions out there, some are more commonly used than others. Let’s take a look at some of the most common chord progressions. It’s lik...
One of the most common chord progressions is the I IV V (or 1 4 5) progression. You’ve probably heard it before, even if you don’t know it by its fancy Roman numerals. It’s a heavily used progression and it has appeared in hit songs that span decades like 1958’s “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens, the chorus of 1965’s “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan,...
Then there’s the I V vi IV (or 1 5 6 4) progression, also known as “the four magic chords,” which is used in pop hits like Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” or Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” You can say it’s overused—The Beatles’ “Let It Be,” Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” U2’s “With or Without You,” Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” to name a few—but it’s a ve...
Another common progression is the vi IV I V progression. It uses the same chords as the one above, but instead of starting on the major tonic chord we start from its relative minor. Even though they’re basically the same progression, you get a completely different sound because of where you’re starting (you can call it the minor equivalent of the f...
If you want to borrow a less obvious progression, try the ii V I (or 2 5 1). This one is used in jazz standards like “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington and “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise” written by Sigmund Romberg and performed in popular versions by John Coltrane, Artie Shaw, Sonny Rollins, and more. It’s a common cadence used to take us back...
A more complex form of the ii V I would be the vi ii V I (or 6 2 5 1) progression, which is also known as the circle progression (based on the circle of fifths). It was made popular with George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” in 1931 and it worked just as well 70 years later in Weezer’s 2001 hit, “Island in the Sun.”
The chord progressions we’ve seen so far share something in common: they all feature diatonic chords. While it’s important to not overload yourself with progressions to memorize, it can be helpful to recognize some of these modal interchange chords (chords that do not belong to the expected tonality of a song). These chords stand out for their unex...
The ♭VI ♭VII I cadence is commonly found at the end of a Super Mario level, or during a baseball game. Its sound gives us a sense of victory, the one you might feel after completing a hard level in your favorite platformer. An example of this in popular music can be found once again in the Beatles discography, in the “Billy Shields” opening of “Wit...
Now, just because you’re using a similar chord progression as another song doesn’t mean you’re copying it. Unless, now that we mention it, you’re Radiohead, who were sued by songwriters Albert Hammond (the father of the Strokes guitarist) and Mike Hazelwood for borrowing not only the progression, but also the rhythm and melody of their 1972 song “T...
- I-V-vi-IV. Get the free Common Chord Progressions MIDI pack. So many songs are based on the same common chord progressions. This progression is called “the most popular progression” for a reason.
- I, IV and V. I, IV and V are the basic building blocks for chord progressions in western music. You’ll find these chords playing an important role in every single style of popular music.
- ii-V-I. Some chord progressions are closely associated with specific genres. The ii-V-I progression is the backbone of almost all of the standard tunes in jazz.
- 12 Bar Blues. Get the free Common Chord Progressions MIDI pack. Speaking of genre progressions, the 12 bar blues is another essential chord sequence that comes from a distinct style.
Oct 21, 2023 · The must-know chord progressions of modern music. Significant chord progs from back in time. Why these progressions are so compelling and essential. Also, check out our post on all the different types of chords!
Chord progressions are a series of chords that sound great together from the same key. Since music has evolved - certain chord progressions sound particularly good! They are a helpful starting point in songwriting and improvising!
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