10 Most Common Chord Progressions of All Time

Common chord progressions are widely used harmonic patterns that form the foundation of songs across all genres of music.

These progressions create tension and release, driving momentum and shaping a song’s emotional arc.

In this guide, you’ll learn the 10 most common chord progressions of all time and how to use them in your own songwriting.

What Are The Most Common Chord Progressions?

The most common chord progressions are widely used harmonic patterns that appear in jazz, blues, pop, and classical-influenced music.

Some of the most well known include I–V–vi–IV, vi–IV–I–V, ii–V–I, and the 12-bar blues chord progression.

Understanding how common chord progressions work is fundamental to writing a song that balances tension, release, and variations.

Here’s a concise overview of the common chord progressions used in modern song structures, depicted using the Roman numerals system.

In this system, uppercase Roman numerals indicate major chords, while lowercase letters refer to minor chords:

• I–V–vi–IV: Widely used in music composition for several decades, this chord progression is among the most popular chord progressions used in pop songs.
• vi–IV–I–V: Another common chord progression used today, this progression has a sensitive feeling that lends it to emotional music like ballads.
• ii–V–I: Known as the Jazz Standard, this simple chord progression provides the foundational cadence for tonal harmony.
• 12-bar blues: In addition to blues, rock and R&B often use the 12-bar blues chord progression.
• I–vi–IV–V: Sometimes referred to as the “50s progression,” you’ll frequently hear this used in earlier rock music tracks.

These common chord progressions can be combined with melody and rhythm to create complete songs.

What Are Chord Progressions?

Chord progressions are sequences of chords that form the foundational harmonic structure of music, which combine with melody and rhythm.

When making music, chord progressions vary between choruses and verses to build anticipation and tension, then resolve.

Songwriters achieve this by experimenting with various types of chords within a progression, from basic triads to more complex chord structures.

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Essential Music Theory Behind Chord Progressions

You don’t have to know how to read sheet music to understand how to create chord progressions in your own music.

These are some foundational music theory concepts you can apply when creating chord progressions in compositions:

• Roman numeral progression analysis: The use of Roman numerals to identify chord progressions allows musicians to transpose them to any key and instrument easily. Uppercase numerals indicate major chords, while lowercase numerals indicate minor chords, with the diminished symbol ° for diminished chords.
• Key and scales: A song’s harmony is based on its key, typically major or minor, which determines the available notes in its scale. This key is known as the song’s “home” or “tonic,” from which stacked notes form chords.
• Diatonic chords and triads: Chords that occur naturally within a key are referred to as diatonic chords, while triads are a basic type of chord that uses the first (tonic) note, third note, and fifth note.
• Functional harmony: Different chord progressions move around the tonic note to create stability and movement, with subdominant chords moving away from the tonic and dominant chords toward it.

You can also reference the circle of fifths to see how keys and chords are related to one another and view closely related chords.

The 10 Most Common Chord Progressions of All Time

Understanding the chord progressions used across different genres is a turning point in any composer’s learning process.

Below, we’ll break down the 10 most common chord progressions of all time, how they work, and classic songs that use them effectively.

10. I–V–ii–IV — Indie & Modern Folk

A common chord progression for singer-songwriters working in folk and indie music, this arrangement borrows from classical harmony.

By avoiding the expected V-to-I resolution, it introduces a reflective, open feeling that softens the overall style.

It’s a common chord progression used by musicians at gigs on acoustic guitars as part of their performance repertoires.

You can hear this progression in songs like Vance Joy’s “Riptide” and The Lumineers’ “Ho Hey,” which uses a simplified version.

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9. iv–V–i — Minor Authentic Cadence

The minor authentic cadence chord progression is based on the harmonic practices of the Baroque and Classical periods.

This lends it to applications in film score compositions, notable for its use of dramatic minor endings with a sense of seriousness.

Classical composers, such as Beethoven and Chopin, laid the groundwork that film composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams later built on.

8. I–V–IV–V — Rock Pedal Progression

Moving away from progressions rooted in classical harmony, the rock pedal progression is built around dominant-focused riff harmony.

Also commonly used in hard rock and blues-rock jams, it’s a powerful progression that lends itself to aggressive and restless music.

It’s the repeated return to the V that provides the anchor for guitar riffs in this progression, evident in the work of late-60s rock bands.

The progression has also been used by many successful independent artists, as well as by established bands like AC/DC and The Kinks.

7. I–♭VII–♭VI–V — Andalusian Cadence

Another common chord progression in cinematic music is the Andalusian cadence, which draws on Spanish flamenco traditions.

With its exotic sense of emotional resonance and close association with passion and danger, it’s been used effectively by artists like Rosalia.

The Andalusian cadence can often be heard in film scores, particularly in scenes set in Mediterranean or Middle Eastern locations.

For traditional songs in this format, check out “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles, for a related minor descending loop, and Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing.”

6. I–vi–ii–V — Jazz Turnaround

A descendant of the classical circle progression, the Jazz Turnaround became a standard format in America’s jazz swing era.

Also applied for pop–jazz crossovers, as well as in bridges and endings, it’s a fluid progression that always feels dynamic.

If you’re composing in this style, you can check out jazz turnaround masterclasses to explore applications of this popular progression.

Classic jazz tracks featuring the turnaround include “Fly Me to the Moon” by Bart Howard and “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin.

5. I–vi–IV–V — 50s progression

As the name of this progression implies, its origins can be traced back to early rock and similar associated genres like doo-wop.

It has been featured on many songs from the era, including “Earth Angel” by The Penguins and Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me.”

As these and other songs demonstrate, the 50s progression works especially well for songs striving for a romantic or nostalgic vibe.

The 50s progression is still recycled to this day, appearing on songs by various modern artists across their EPs and albums.

4. 12-Bar Blues

Providing the structural backbone of blues, rock, R&B, and funk, the 12-bar blues structure has an impressively versatile emotional depth.

Artists such as Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley have used this form in various songs, exploring its call-and-response structure.

If you’re composing a 12-bar blues progression, check out songwriting tips to fit a cohesive melody within the framework.

3. ii–V–I — The Jazz Standard

Another progression with roots in jazz is the Jazz Standard chord progression, which serves as the foundational harmonic unit for the genre.

Featured in songs like “All the Things You Are,” it’s a staple tune for modern jazz musicians and has applications to film composition.

The Jazz Standard works through the predominant and dominant chords before resolving to the tonic with elegance.

At the same time, it provides room for a clear sense of direction, as exemplified in the song “Autumn Leaves” by Joseph Kosma.

2. vi–IV–I–V — Pop Progression

In contemporary, powerful pop, this progression is often used in ballads and electronic dance music.

It’s simple yet highly effective, often used by professional music producers in media such as television and movies.

This type of pop music progression can also be heard in the classic song “With or Without You” by U2 and other rock classics.

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1. I–V–vi–IV — Pop / Pop-Punk Progression

Widely considered to be the most used progression of the last several decades, the pop progression can be heard across popular music genres.

Its structure lends itself to energetic, upbeat music with an uplifting tone, and it is exceptionally adaptable for emotional lyricism.

At the same time, the shift from the V to vi provides a striking hook that enhances its accessibility for listeners.

Bands and singer-songwriters who have used this chord progression include The Beatles, Lady Gaga, and Adele.

How To Write Chord Progressions

Writing chord progressions is as important as writing a melody when it comes to creating fully realized musical compositions.

Here’s how you can write chord progressions that sound good, whether using songwriting software or composing in a digital audio workstation:

• Start with a key and scale: Chord progressions begin with a key that establishes the root note, such as C major or A minor. Once you’ve settled on a key for your song, you can explore chromatic scales and arpeggios that inform the key’s different chords.
• Map out diatonic chords: With your song’s key determined, you can use this to learn the diatonic chords that are comprised of notes within the key’s specific scale. These harmonically cohesive chords are also expressed through the Roman numeral system to highlight compatible major and minor chords.
• Build the progression with primary chords: Using the root note of your key as the starting point, you can begin building the progression with primary chords. For example, if your song is in C major, the foundation will include the C major tonic, subdominant IV chord, and dominant V chord.
• Expand it with supporting chords: Primary chords can be combined with non-primary diatonic chords to alter the song’s mood and create more sophisticated chord progressions.
• Establish a strong cadence: To signal the end of your chord progressions, you’ll need to include a cadence, which serves as a punctuation ending a phrase. Different types of cadences include the perfect authentic cadence for a complete stop, the half cadence, and the plagal cadence for open-ended or softer resolutions.
• Elevate transitions with voice leading and inversions: Lastly, you can improve chord progressions by using inversions, rearranging the order of notes, and moving the bass away from the root. Voice leading is another method of moving notes within a chord progression to create a layered melody, often used in classical vocal music.

Once you’ve released a song, gather feedback to see if your particular chord progressions achieve the intended emotional results.

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Tools and Resources for Writing Chord Progressions

Experimenting with different chord progressions can quickly become overwhelming, but there are resources that demystify the concepts.

If you’re struggling with the basic types or chords or want to explore complex arrangements, these are essential tools and resources:

• Chord progression analysis tools: Chords form the backbone of harmonic music arrangement, and you can quickly analyze music with tools that deconstruct chord progressions. Chordify, Mixed in Key, and TheoryLab are excellent tools for extracting chords and melody breakdowns from your favorite songs.
• Music theory resources: If you want to place chord progressions in a broader theoretical context, you can use online courses and video tutorials from YouTube. For more advanced music theory, consider applying to a dedicated music production school. This will provide an in-depth overview of all forms of composition and how they relate to various production techniques.
• Chord progression generation tools: While AI music production tools are no replacement for raw talent, they can streamline the process of creating chord progressions. Check out Hookpad and Scaler 3 for advanced composition tools capable of suggesting and composing original chord progressions.

By analyzing the most popular chord progressions, you can learn common tones and chord structures for your own compositions.

Summary

The most common chord progressions endure because they balance familiarity with emotional movement.

Understanding how tension and release operate within these patterns gives you control over your song’s direction and impact.

Master them, and you gain a practical framework for writing music that feels both timeless and original.