Welcome to Essential Chord Progressions

For free chord progressions that are great for guitar, piano, organ, or any other chording instrument, scroll further down the page. But be sure to check out the following articles. They'll reveal the secrets of how chord progressions work.

NOTE: Free with your purchase of “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting" 6-eBook Bundle: "From Amateur to Ace: Writing Songs Like a Pro"

STRONG and FRAGILE PROGRESSIONS (all given in C-major):

Simple progressions can be categorized as either being strong or fragile.

A strong progression is one that clearly points to one note as the key, or tonic, note. They can be used anywhere, and are great especially for chorus melodies, which usually rely on the strong indication of a key.

Strong Progressions (To see these progressions in fretboard/musical staff notation, click here.)

C Dm G C
C Dm7 G C
C Fmaj7 G7 C
C Am Dm G C
C Em Am Dm G7 C

A fragile progression is one in which a specific chord is not clearly indicated as being the only possible tonic chord. Such a progression, on its own, could point toward two or more chords as being possible tonics, and usually require a strong progression after it to make the clear determination.

Fragile progressions can be used anywhere, but work very well in verse melodies. Keep in mind that most multi-chord progressions are a mixture of strong and fragile elements.

Fragile Progressions (To see these progressions in fretboard/musical staff notation, click here.)

Dm7 Em7
Am G F G Am
Em G Am Em Dm F Am
C Gm7 Am7 BbMaj7

PROGRESSIONS THAT END ON A DIFFERENT CHORD (DECEPTIVE CADENCE):

Deceptive Cadences (To see these progressions in fretboard/musical staff notation, click here.)

C F Am G F
C Dm G Am
C Am Em G Ab

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE DIMINISHED CHORDS:
(What's a diminished chord?)

Diminished Chords (To see these progressions in fretboard/musical staff notation, click here.)

C F Fdim7 C
C Dm Bdim C
C C#dim Dm G C

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE INVERTED CHORDS:
(What's an inverted chord?)

Inverted Chords

C C/E F G C
C G/B F/A G C
C G/B Am F G G/B C
C G E/G# Am G/B C

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE SECONDARY DOMINANT CHORDS:

(What's a secondary dominant chord?)

Secondary Dominant Chords

C A Dm G C
C E A Dm G C
C F D G C
C D G C

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE MODAL MIXTURES:

(What's a modal mixture chord?)

Modal Mixture Chords

C F Fm C
C C/E Fm G C
C Eb F G C
C F Ddim G C

Welcome to Essential Chord Progressions

Modes:

Which Bits of Music Theory Are Most Relevant for Songwriters?

Strong & Fragile Progressions:

Too Many Chords Can Clutter Up a Good Song

Making Chord Progressions Better:

5 Ideas To Turn a Boring Chord Progression Into Something More Exciting

The World of Songwriting:

Good Songwriting: Branching Out From 3-Chord Songs

STRONG and FRAGILE PROGRESSIONS (all given in C-major):

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE DIMINISHED CHORDS:
(What's a diminished chord?)

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE INVERTED CHORDS:
(What's an inverted chord?)

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE SECONDARY DOMINANT CHORDS:

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE MODAL MIXTURES:

©2012 Pantomime Music Publications

Welcome to Essential Chord Progressions

Modes:

Which Bits of Music Theory Are Most Relevant for Songwriters?

Strong & Fragile Progressions:

Too Many Chords Can Clutter Up a Good Song

Making Chord Progressions Better:

5 Ideas To Turn a Boring Chord Progression Into Something More Exciting

The World of Songwriting:

Good Songwriting: Branching Out From 3-Chord Songs

STRONG and FRAGILE PROGRESSIONS (all given in C-major):

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE DIMINISHED CHORDS: (What's a diminished chord?)

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE INVERTED CHORDS: (What's an inverted chord?)

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE SECONDARY DOMINANT CHORDS:

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE MODAL MIXTURES:

©2012 Pantomime Music Publications

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE DIMINISHED CHORDS:
(What's a diminished chord?)

PROGRESSIONS THAT USE INVERTED CHORDS:
(What's an inverted chord?)