Pitch & Key
Chord Progressions by Key
Pick a key and see proven progressions spelled out in real chords, not just Roman numerals. Each one comes with a note on where it's used and why it moves the way it does.
| Progression | Chords in this key |
|---|
How this works
Roman numerals describe chords by their position in a key, so a progression written in numerals works in every key; you just fill in the actual chords. Uppercase means major, lowercase minor. In A minor, the i is A minor, the VI is F major, the VII is G major, and so on. This tool does that translation for you, so I–V–vi–IV becomes real chords you can play.
In practice
These progressions are common because they work. They've anchored thousands of songs across every genre. Starting from a known progression and then twisting it (swap one chord, change the order, add a 7th) is how most producers write, not building harmony from scratch. Pick one that matches the mood you're after and build your melody and bassline on top.
For electronic music, the minor progressions tend to do the heavy lifting. The i–VI–III–VII loop alone underpins a huge amount of trance, melodic techno, and cinematic EDM, precisely because it feels like constant forward motion without ever fully resolving. That unresolved quality is exactly what keeps a loop-based track feeling like it's always going somewhere.