Chord progression builder
Pick a chord progression, a key and a tempo, then press Play to hear it loop. The link below the player saves your choices, so you can send your progression to a bandmate or open it again later.
In C major, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- IC
- VG
- viAm
- IVF
How to use the builder
- Choose a progression. Each option is written in Roman numerals (I, IV, V…), which describe chords by their position in the key rather than by name. That's what lets one progression work in every key.
- Choose a key. The chord names update right away. Pick a key that suits your voice or your instrument: G, C, D, A and E give open chords on guitar.
- Set the tempo, then press Play. The chord that's sounding lights up. Loop is on, so it keeps going while you practice.
- Switch Piano / Guitar to hear the chords voiced for either instrument.
- Copy the link to save or share exactly what you built.
Sharing your progression
Everything you choose is written into the web address: the progression, the key and the tempo (for example ?p=ii-v-i&k=Eb&bpm=100). Open that link and the builder loads straight into Fm7, B♭7, E♭maj7, E♭maj7 at 100 BPM. There's no account and nothing stored on a server, so links never expire. Paste one into a text, a lesson plan or a band chat.
Want a playable chord diagram on your own website or blog? The embed page gives you a copy-and-paste chord player for any chord.
Starting points
Not sure where to begin? Each of these opens in the builder with a key and tempo that suit it. Follow the second link to learn how the progression works and why it sounds the way it does.
| Progression | Key | Chords | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| I–V–vi–IV About the pop progression | G major | G D Em C | The most used loop in modern pop. Four chords, endless melodies. |
| I–IV–V About the three-chord progression | D major | D G A D | Three chords that carry folk, country, early rock and roll and blues. |
| I–vi–IV–V About the 50s progression | C major | C Am F G | The 50s ballad sound: warm, a little nostalgic. |
| ii–V–I About the jazz cadence | B♭ major | Cm7 F7 B♭maj7 B♭maj7 | The core cadence of jazz, with seventh chords. |
| I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) About the 12-bar blues | E major | E7 E7 E7 E7 A7 A7 E7 E7 B7 A7 E7 B7 | Twelve bars of dominant 7ths; the form under most blues jams. |
| i–VII–VI–V About the Andalusian cadence | A minor | Am G F E | A falling minor line with a Spanish, flamenco flavor. |
| i–VI–III–VII About the minor anthem | E minor | Em C G D | A big minor-key loop common in anthemic rock and film music. |
What Roman numerals mean
In any major key, the seven notes of the scale each have a chord built on them. Uppercase numerals (I, IV, V) are major chords; lowercase (ii, iii, vi) are minor; vii° is diminished. So in C major, I is C, IV is F, V is G and vi is Am. Change the key, and the numerals point to a new set of chords with the same relationships. That's why a progression can be shared as numbers and played anywhere.
The chord progressions guide covers each one in depth, the circle of fifths shows which keys are close to each other, and each key page lists its seven chords.
Practice ideas
- Chord changes: set 60 BPM and change on beat 1 of each chord. Raise the tempo when it feels easy, or keep a steady click going with the metronome.
- Improvising: loop a progression and play the notes of its scale over it. Start by landing on the root of each chord as it changes.
- Songwriting: hum a melody over the loop. Then try the same idea in a new key or over a different progression.
Progression builder questions
How do I share a chord progression I made?
Pick the progression, key and tempo, then press Copy link. The link stores all three settings, so whoever opens it hears the same progression in the same key at the same speed. Nothing is saved on a server; the settings live in the link itself.
Can I change the key after I pick a progression?
Yes. Choose any key from the Key menu and every chord is recalculated. Major progressions offer the 12 major keys; minor progressions offer the 12 minor keys.
What tempo should I practice a progression at?
Slow enough to change chords on the beat without stopping, often 60 to 80 BPM for new chord shapes. Raise it a few BPM at a time. Each chord lasts four beats.
Can I hear the progression on guitar instead of piano?
Yes. Use the Piano / Guitar switch in the player. Guitar plays a common chord shape for each chord; piano plays the chord with a bass note.
Updated September 2026.