Free online tool
Chord Progression Generator
Chord progression generator: pick a key and a progression such as I-V-vi-IV or 12-bar blues, see the chords and notes, hear them, and print every key.
About the Chord Progression Generator
The chord progression generator is a free tool that builds chord progressions in any of the 12 major or minor keys. It runs in your web browser, and you do not need to sign up. Pick a progression from the list, or let the tool generate a random but musical one. Each chord appears with its Roman numeral, chord symbol and notes. You can play the sequence at a tempo you choose, loop it, and print a one-page chart that shows the progression in all 12 keys. It shows chord names and notes, not guitar or piano diagrams.
How to use the Chord progression generator
- Choose a key from the Key list. It has 12 tonics labelled like “C major” or “C minor”. The default is C major.
- Pick Major or Minor. This switches the key list and keeps the same pitch, so Db major becomes C# minor.
- Open the Progression list and choose a named progression, such as I–V–vi–IV, or choose “Generated (new)”.
- Set Chord type to Triads or Seventh chords. Picking a progression sets a default, and you can change it afterwards.
- To build a new random progression, press Generate new and choose a Length of 4 bars or 8 bars.
- Use −1 semitone or +1 semitone to move the whole progression to a neighbouring key.
- Set Tempo (BPM) between 40 and 240. The default is 90. Tick Loop to repeat the sequence.
- Press Play. The current chord is highlighted as it sounds. Press Stop to end the sequence. A chord already sounding will ring out.
- Scroll to the table below the chord cards to see the progression in all 12 keys, with your selected key highlighted. Press Print chart to print it on one page.
Copy link copies a web address that stores your key, mode, progression, chord type and tempo. The address updates as you change settings, so you can share your exact setup.
Chord progression meaning#
A chord progression is a series of chords played in order. The order gives a piece of music its sense of home and movement. The tool labels each chord with a Roman numeral that shows its position in the key. The first chord of the key is I, the fourth step is IV, and so on. Uppercase numerals are major chords and lowercase numerals are minor chords. In C major, I is C and vi is Am. A “b” before a numeral marks a borrowed chord: in C major, bVII is Bb.
Chord progression example#
Take F major with I–V–vi–IV in triads. The result is F [F A C], C [C E G], Dm [D F A] and Bb [Bb D F], one chord per bar. The tool spells every chord from the key’s own letters, so the Bb chord is never written as A#. This four-chord loop is known as the pop progression, and it works in any key.
2 5 1 chord progression examples#
A 2 5 1 is ii–V–I, the common jazz progression. In C major, with seventh chords, it is Dm7 [D F A C], G7 [G B D F] and Cmaj7 [C E G B]. In F major it becomes Gm7, C7 and Fmaj7. In minor keys the matching pattern is iiø–V–i, which uses a half-diminished chord on the ii step.
6 4 1 5 chord progression example#
6 4 1 5 is vi–IV–I–V. In C major that is Am, F, C and G. It uses the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, but the loop starts on the vi chord. Playing it with the Loop box ticked makes the cycle easy to hear.
List of common chord progressions#
The Progression list includes these patterns.
- Major keys: I–V–vi–IV (pop), I–IV–V–I, I–vi–IV–V (50s), vi–IV–I–V, ii–V–I (jazz), I–vi–ii–V (jazz turnaround), I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V (Pachelbel’s Canon), the 12-bar blues and I–bVII–IV (mixolydian rock).
- Minor keys: i–VI–III–VII (minor pop), i–iv–v (natural minor), i–iv–V (harmonic minor), i–VII–VI–V (Andalusian cadence) and iiø–V–i (minor jazz).
12 bar chord progression#
The 12-bar blues has 12 bars with one chord per bar, in the pattern I I I I | IV IV I I | V IV I V. The V chord in bar 12 is a turnaround that leads back to the start. In A it is A7 A7 A7 A7 D7 D7 A7 A7 E7 D7 A7 E7 with seventh chords, or A A A A D D A A E D A E with triads. The tool offers only this standard form, not quick-change versions.
How does the generator choose the next chord?#
The generator uses harmonic function, which groups chords by their role in the key. Tonic chords feel settled, predominant chords lead away from home, and dominant chords pull back to the tonic. A tonic chord can be followed by a tonic, predominant or dominant chord. A predominant chord can be followed by a predominant or dominant chord. A dominant chord can only be followed by the tonic. The same chord never appears twice in a row. A generated progression ends on the tonic, or on V so that it loops back to the start. It always uses at least three different chords in 4 bars and four in 8 bars.