Chord Progression Calculator
Generate and analyze chord progressions in different keys
About Chord Progression Calculator
Understanding Chord Progressions
Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in music. They're sequences of chords that form the harmonic framework of a piece. Understanding chord progressions is crucial for songwriting, improvisation, and music analysis.
Roman Numeral Analysis
In music theory, chords are often represented with Roman numerals to show their relationship to the key:
| Upper case (I, IV, V) | Major chords |
| Lower case (i, iv, v) | Minor chords |
| Position | Scale degree (I = tonic, V = dominant) |
Common Progressions by Style
Pop Music
- I-V-vi-IV: The "pop-punk" progression
- vi-IV-I-V: The "sad" progression
- I-IV-V: The basic rock progression
Jazz
- ii7-V7-I: The fundamental jazz progression
- I-vi7-ii7-V7: The "rhythm changes" progression
- iii7-vi7-ii7-V7: The jazz turnaround
Classical
- I-IV-V-I: The perfect authentic cadence
- I-vi-IV-V: The classical period progression
- I-V7-vi: The deceptive cadence
Key Relationships
Understanding related keys is important for modulation and composition:
Primary Relationships
- Relative major/minor: Share the same key signature
- Dominant: Fifth scale degree, creates tension
- Subdominant: Fourth scale degree, creates movement
Secondary Relationships
- Parallel major/minor: Same tonic, different mode
- Secondary dominants: Temporary key changes
- Modal interchange: Borrowing from parallel modes
Chord Extensions
Chords can be enhanced with additional notes:
Sevenths
- maj7: Major seventh
- min7: Minor seventh
- dom7: Dominant seventh
Ninths
- add9: Added ninth
- maj9: Major ninth
- min9: Minor ninth
Extended
- 11th: Added eleventh
- 13th: Added thirteenth
- sus: Suspended chords
Applications in Music
- Creating emotional context
- Establishing key center
- Building tension and release
- Supporting melody
- Defining musical style
Pro Tips
- Learn to recognize common progressions by ear
- Practice progressions in all 12 keys
- Experiment with reharmonization
- Study the chord progressions of songs you like
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