Chord Progressions

Here are some popular chord progressions.

I-IV-V

The most popular chord progression is the 1, 4, and 5 chords. In the key of C , you play the C chord, the, F chord as the IV, and the G as the V. The 1, 4, and 5th chord of a major scale is always a major chord. The 2,3, and 6th chord of a major scale is always a minor chord. In C major, you play the C major chord, F major chord, and G major chord.

ii-V-I

Another popular chord progression is the 2, 5, and 1 chords. In the key of C major the 2nd chord is D minor. In C major, you play the D minor chord, then G major chord as the 5th, and the C major chord.

I-vi-ii-V-I

Another popular chord progression is one that has 4 chords. It can start on I, go to the 6th chord, and then use the ii-V-I pattern.

In the key of C major, the 6th chord is A minor. It can start on C major, go to A minor, and then go to D minor, G major , and back to C major.

Note that A to D is a fourth and D to G is a fourth. G to C is a fourth. There is a stepwise pattern in the way that chords are arranged in the progression.

Remember these free piano chords and chord progressions. Try and look for these patterns in the chord progressions.

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