Chord Progressions
A chord progression is a sequence of chords chosen from a key. Roman numerals describe the pattern independent of any specific key — learn the pattern once and you can play it in all 12 keys instantly.
The Core Idea
Every major key contains the same pattern of 7 diatonic chords — three major, three minor, one diminished. Roman numerals label each chord by its position in the key: uppercase for major chords, lowercase for minor. When someone says “play a I–IV–V in G,” you immediately know: G, C, and D.
The 7 diatonic chords of any major key — same pattern in every key
Progression Explorer
Major key progressions
Minor key progressions
I – V – vi – IV
The pop anthem formula. These four chords underpin hundreds of massive hits across pop, rock, and country. Feels uplifting with a satisfying emotional sweep.
Key of (major):
Tonic → Dominant → Relative minor → Subdominant
Roman Numeral Notation
Roman numerals tell you which scale degree a chord is built on, and its quality. Uppercase (I, IV, V) = major chord. Lowercase (ii, iii, vi) = minor chord. The degree number tells you which note of the scale is the chord root.
| Roman | Quality | Example (C major) |
|---|---|---|
| I | major | C |
| ii | minor | Dm |
| iii | minor | Em |
| IV | major | F |
| V | major | G |
| vi | minor | Am |
| vii° | diminished | Bdim |
I, IV, V are the three major chords in a major key. They sound bright, stable, and resolved.
ii, iii, vi are the three minor chords. They add color and emotion — the vi is the relative minor, the tonal shadow of I.
The seventh degree is diminished — tense and unstable, it almost always resolves upward to I.
The Three Harmonic Functions
Every chord in a key plays a role. Understanding these three functions explains why progressions create movement and tension — and why resolution feels satisfying.
The “home” chords. Stable and resolved — you can rest here. The I chord is the strongest tonic. Progressions begin and end here.
The “departure” chords. They create motion away from home. Often precede the dominant to build a full tonic–subdominant–dominant cycle.
The “tension” chords. They create the strongest pull back to the tonic. The V–I resolution is the cornerstone of Western harmony.
Why Adjacent Keys Sound Smooth
The Circle of Fifths reveals why chord progressions feel the way they do. Keys that are adjacent on the circle share 6 of their 7 notes — they are closely related. Moving from the V chord to the I is a fifth relationship, the same motion that drives the circle. The ii–V–I progression follows this logic: each chord is a fifth below the next, creating irresistible gravitational pull toward the tonic.
All Progressions — Quick Reference
| Name | Pattern | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| I-IV-V | IIVV | The bedrock of blues and rock |
| I-V-vi-IV | IVviIV | The pop anthem formula |
| ii-V-I | iiVI | The defining progression of jazz |
| I-vi-IV-V | IviIVV | The 1950s doo-wop sound |
| I-iii-IV-V | IiiiIVV | A warm ascending sequence |
| vi-IV-I-V | viIVIV | The pop/rock minor-feel variant |
| i-VII-VI-VII | iVIIVIVII | The Andalusian-flavored rock cadence |
| i-iv-v | iivv | Pure natural minor — all three chords are minor, creating a consistently dark and brooding atmosphere |
| i-VI-III-VII | iVIIIIVII | Epic and cinematic — three major chords orbiting a minor tonic create wide harmonic motion |
| I-IV-I-V | IIVIV | A simplified snapshot of the 12-bar blues form |
Click any row to explore that progression above.
Build and save your own progressions
The Chord Progression Builder lets you construct progressions with any of 14 chord types, hear them play back, and save to your account. Song Lab adds a full tab editor and key analysis.