What makes a good chord progression. Is there some sort of formula to follow or any common ones that a lot of songs use?

A very common format for progressions is this:

 

Take whatever note you want to start on, the key of the song. If you're playing on a guitar the next chord is the same fret but 1 string higher. For example, if you start in the key of F(1st fret on the low E string) the next chord would be B-flat (1st fret on the A string). Those are chords 1 and 2 respectively. Then the third chord is one whole step up from chord 2. So in this progression that would be a C chord (2 frets up from the B-flat). The ordering of the progression is as follows:

 

1-1-2-1-3-2-1-1

 

And repeat. That's a standard progression and it's movable so you can start in any key. Hope that helped.

Thanks for the tip. I came up with one that really doesn't seem to make sense to me. I'm on the piano and I start off with Dm, then C, B-flat (1, 7, 6) and then A - that A should be a minor shouldn't it, but it seems to work and it sounds good... is that normal?

Thanks for the tip. I came up with one that really doesn't seem to make sense to me. I'm on the piano and I start off with Dm, then C, B-flat (1, 7, 6) and then A - that A should be a minor shouldn't it, but it seems to work and it sounds good... is that normal?

 

Actually I just tried that out and it sounds better with A rather than A minor to me. That's a really good progression.

 

One progression I came up with once that I could never turn into anything is this:

 

B-flat major 7th, D minor 7th, F major 7th, C major 7th

 

It's kind of dark sounding but I think it's really good. Feel free to use it.:)

Research some basic music theory to get the heavy details. I just pick a key and play around with chords that fit. Or try a melody and change the individual notes into chords.

 

D-Bm-A-G is a nice simple example. I love switching from F#m to E...and after you have your solid major chords, play around with added notes like F#m7 or E6 customised to the songs mood.

Research some basic music theory to get the heavy details. I just pick a key and play around with chords that fit. Or try a melody and change the individual notes into chords.

 

D-Bm-A-G is a nice simple example. I love switching from F#m to E...and after you have your solid major chords, play around with added notes like F#m7 or E6 customised to the songs mood.

 

I sometimes do that but that can lead to over complicating your progression. In my opinion, it's better to have an simple progression that sounds good than a complex one that doesnt click right. That's why I think it's better to start with your basic chords and if one doesn't sound exactly right then try varying it until you get the right sound. The simpler the better in my opinion, especially for a beginner.

A very common format for progressions is this:

 

Take whatever note you want to start on, the key of the song. If you're playing on a guitar the next chord is the same fret but 1 string higher. For example, if you start in the key of F(1st fret on the low E string) the next chord would be B-flat (1st fret on the A string). Those are chords 1 and 2 respectively. Then the third chord is one whole step up from chord 2. So in this progression that would be a C chord (2 frets up from the B-flat). The ordering of the progression is as follows:

 

1-1-2-1-3-2-1-1

 

And repeat. That's a standard progression and it's movable so you can start in any key. Hope that helped.

 

in music theory, that's a I IV V progression, very typical indeed - there are some basic "rules" to follow when writing chord progressions, they aren't always true but usually they're good to follow - an example would be a V going to a I, that happens all the time in music - also, a lot of rock tunes have i VII VI, whereas the lowercase "i" is minor (all along the watchtower, stairway to heaven come to mind) - if you don't want to get into music theory though, just find chords you like - the more you practice, the more you'll find chords that will fit well - but theory helps a ton:wink3:

Wow guys, in three years of playing guitar/piano someone FINALLY explained "keys" and how to figure out what notes contained in them to me in a way I could understand. Had such a hard time with that before.

 

There are many standard or common chord progressions A-E-D and combinations of have been done to death...but in the end mess around with it, you will become accustomed to what sounds good and what doesn't. If your not sure, ask a friend if it sounds good.

I sometimes do that but that can lead to over complicating your progression. In my opinion, it's better to have an simple progression that sounds good than a complex one that doesnt click right. That's why I think it's better to start with your basic chords and if one doesn't sound exactly right then try varying it until you get the right sound. The simpler the better in my opinion, especially for a beginner.

 

That's sort of what I was trying to say in that bit in my post. I agree that simple number-free open chords are the best way to start. I was just saying that after you have a solid base you can play around with variations to give your song a somewhat unique structure.

 

On another note...I also know Chris Martin said that when he's out of ideas, he'll mess with a tuning, capo or whatever and see if he hears any new or interesting, like a weird chord.

Thanks for the tip. I came up with one that really doesn't seem to make sense to me. I'm on the piano and I start off with Dm, then C, B-flat (1, 7, 6) and then A - that A should be a minor shouldn't it, but it seems to work and it sounds good... is that normal?

 

 

 

Listen to "Doves - The Man Who Told Everything". They use Fm - G# - D-flat - C, which is the exact same change at the two last chords but in a different key. That last change is what makes the whole song.

 

Hugely underrated..

 

 

BTW

 

Chord changes that don't really "follow the book" are usually what catches my ear, and are the songs that never get worn out. Like Jeff Buckley's Lover you should've come over.

 

EDIT: And i'm not talking about Fiona Apple off-key shit. That's just instument rape.

C#m, Bm7, Amaj7, F#m7, Emaj7, C#m, F#m

 

If I remembered that correctly...just a progression that I came across one day.

Chord changes that don't really "follow the book" are usually what catches my ear, and are the songs that never get worn out. Like Jeff Buckley's Lover you should've come over.

I totally agree. For a while I was obsessed with trying to write weird chord sequences that still sounded good, and the thing I learned the most is that the chords don't matter nearly as much as how you play them. However, if you play weird chords in a way that lets you pull them off, it's very effective.

 

Probably the weirdest sequence I came up with:

 

D | Gm6/D | Bbm6/D | Dm7 |

Bmaj7 | Em/A | Gmaj7 | Gb13 |

Bmaj7 | Em/A | Gmaj7 | FdimMaj7 |

E7 | Eb7 | A7 | A7 |

 

It was meant to be the climactic ending to a song. I don't know if a melody would possibly work with it.

"And i'm not talking about Fiona Apple off-key shit. That's just instument rape."

 

:laugh3:

EDIT: And i'm not talking about Fiona Apple off-key shit. That's just instument rape.

:laugh3::dozey:

 

 

C#m, Bm7, Amaj7, F#m7, Emaj7, C#m, F#m

 

If I remembered that correctly...just a progression that I came across one day.

That is an interesting one no doubt

Another thing that is interesting are breakdowns. Where the music resolves into a coda or something similar. It's insanely effective. Can't come up with a lot of specific examples at this moment, but i guess you know what i mean. Politik may fit the description, at the end where the song changes.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MRTE1cJprM

 

Check it out at 4:00 and onwards..

A chord progression that you hear often (a song that comes to mind right away is Kaiser Chiefs' "Retirement") it I - V - bVII - IV. For example, Gmaj - Dmaj - Fmaj - Cmaj, although it can work with any key. However, with common chord progressions that are very common, they tend to become very boring after awhile.

 

Also, when writing in a minor key, it's usually best to use V instead of v (that is, in the key of Dmin, use Amaj instead of Amin for example). It has something to do with the fact that that chord usually resolves to i (in this case Dmin) and the Amin chord contains a C while the Amaj chord contains to C#, which resolves to D better than C.

 

One progression I came up with (which you can use if you'd like) is I - ii - bVII - V (for example, Amaj - Bmin - Gmaj - Emaj). Play around with stuff until you find something you like.

 

Also check out this site: http://www.hotfrets.com/songanator.asp

 

Hope my long-winded post was helpful and not TOO boring. :)