Chord Progressions

In music, a chord progression is a succession or series of chords. A musical chord, is a set of notes sounding simultaneously. Also notes played close together such as arpeggios may be considered as a single chord.

Basic chords are typcially constructed of three tones by layering two third intervals for each tone of musical scale. Adding further thirds result in more complex chords. The chords are named with respect to their base tone A,B,C,D,E,F,G. The remaining five steps of the twelve possible steps in an octave are named by adding a 'b' or "#" adressing a half step down or a half step up. For a key independent analysis of a chord progression a naming of the position of the chord on the scale is used. The roman number I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII are used. In case of minor chords small letters are used i, ii, ... . The naming with roman numbers is independent from the key of the chord progression. In general, chords may consist off an arbitrary number of tones. For atonal music and tone clusters the naming described above may not make much sense. Therefore it also makes sense to use numbers 0 to 11 for the 12 chromatic steps within an octave. For the MIDI-XT notation, I use the numbers 0 .. 9,x,t.

The intervals of the tones within a chord have a strong influence. Depending on the intervals, the chord will be perceived as consonance or dissonance sound. A chord layered from a minor third and major third will result in minor chord (037), while a chord layered from a major third and minor third will result in a major chord (047). The tension and relaxation of succeeding chords depend significantly on the intervals of the chords. For example, the tritone interval in a chord has a strong tension to relax either in a major third or a minor sixth interval.

Chord progressions very often build the foundation for a musical piece. Many songs can be accompanied already with two or three chords and pop songs very often use a characterisitc four-chord progression. In classical music a basic chord progression is called cadence. The cadence is a specific progression of two or three chords leading to a closing of a piece or part of a piece. In the course of a classical piece, a wide range of variations of cadences may occur including modulation into other keys. Further, chords may occur in wide or tight position or they may occur as inversions. The chords may be extended with additional tones. A minor seven, a six, a major seven, a forth replacing the third, etc. The added tones may be part of the current scale or a scale foreign tone. These variations open an endless field of different progressions and composers typically develope their personal style for harmonic turns. In jazz, the chords often are embellished with 7th, 9th, 13th, etc. The chords are changing fast, close connected with the melody. In polytonal and atonal music cluster chords may occur produce a harmonic sensation that do not fit in the cadence schemes.

The following text provides a compilation of a variety of chord progressions taken from the range sketched above. Each chord progression has a given title, a textual explanation and is shown in common western notation and in MIDI-XT notation. The scores are generated from the MIDI-XT notation using Vexflow, a Javascript music notation rendering tool running in the browswer. The chords sound can be played on the web page by clicking on the chord using the tonejs library. The related MIDI-XT Json files can be down loaded and then loaded into the MsyChords app. MsyChords is an app for performing chords and chord progressions. It also provides means to edit, extend and modify the chord progressions.

Perfect Authentic Cadence

The perfect authentic cadence (PAC) has a V-I progression, both chords are in root position and the highest tone of V is a leading tone to the tonic root.

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 54 60 | C 37 47 52 5t | G
40 47 54 60 | C |

Download chord table PAC.json for using in MsyChords.


Perfect Authentic Cadence

Perfect authentic cadence (PAC). Variant in narrow position.

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 50 | C 37 42 4t | G
40 44 47 50 | C |

Download chord table PAC1.json for using in MsyChords.


Perfect Authentic Cadence with dominant seventh chord

The third of the dominant seventh chord is a leading tone to the root of the tonic. The seventh of the dominant seventh chord leads to the third of the tonic. The dissolution of the tritone, seventh-third, in the dominant chord to the sixth, third-root, of the tonic chord forms a fundamental principle of tonal harmony.

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 50 | C 37 42 45 4t | G7
40 44 47 50 | C |

Download chord table PAC2.json for using in MsyChords.


Imperfect Authentic Cadence

The imperfect authentic cadence (IAC) is a V-I progression, where the chords might not be in root position or the highest tone of V might not be a leading tone to the tonic root.

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 50 54 | C 37 47 4t 52 | G
40 47 50 54 | C |

Download chord table IAC.json for using in MsyChords.


Imperfect Authentic Cadence

The imperfect authentic cadence (IAC) is a V-I progression, where the chords might not be in root position or the highest tone of V might not be a leading tone to the tonic root.

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 50 | C 3t 42 47 52 | G
40 44 47 50 | C |

Download chord table IAC2.json for using in MsyChords.


Half Cadence

The half cadence is an authentic cadence ending with the dominant chord (I-V).

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 54 60 | C 37 47 52 5t | G

Download chord table HalfC.json for using in MsyChords.


Evaded Cadence

An evaded cadence moves from a dominant seventh third inversion chord to a tonic first inversion chord, because the seventh needs to fall down a half tone. This is achieved for example by moving the root tone of the dominant one step down, thereby evading the perfect authentic cadence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadence).

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

47 52 57 5t | G 45 52 57 5t | G7 44 50 57 60 | C

Download chord table Evaded.json for using in MsyChords.


Plagal Cadence

A plagal cadence is a chord progression that ends on IV-I.

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 54 60 | C 45 49 55 60 | F
40 47 54 60 | C |

Download chord table Plagial.json for using in MsyChords.


Cadence with IV-V-I

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 54 60 | C 35 49 55 60 | F 37 47 52 5t | G
40 47 54 60 | C | |

Download chord table Cadence-IV-V-I.json for using in MsyChords.


Cadence with IV-V-I

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 50 | C 40 45 49 50 | F 3t 42 47 4t | G
40 44 47 50 | C | |

Download chord table Cadence-IV-V-I_v2.json for using in MsyChords.


Cadence with ii-V-I

An authentic cadence containing another chord. I-ii-V-I

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 54 60 | C 42 49 55 62 | Dm 37 47 52 5t | G
40 47 54 60 | C | |

Download chord table Cadence-ii-V-I.json for using in MsyChords.


Cadence with ii-V7-I

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 54 57 60 | C 52 55 59 | Dm 47 52 55 5t | G7
50 54 57 60 | C | |

Download chord table Cadence-ii-V-I_v2.json for using in MsyChords.


Name3

Name3

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 49 54 57 | C6 42 50 55 59 | Dm7 42 4t 55 57 | G7
40 4t 54 57 | C7+ 40 49 54 57 | C6 |
| | |

Download chord table Name3.json for using in MsyChords.


Name4

Name4

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 45 49 54 | Dm9 3t 45 49 50 | G13 40 44 47 4t | C69
39 44 47 50 | C6 40 45 49 54 | Dm9 |
| | |

Download chord table Name4.json for using in MsyChords.


Name5

Name5

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 4t 54 | C7+ 39 47 50 54 | Am7 42 49 50 55 | Dm7 37 45 4t 52 | G7
44 4t 52 57 | Em7 39 47 51 54 | A7 42 49 50 55 | Dm7 37 45 4t 52 | G7

Download chord table Name5.json for using in MsyChords.


Name6

Name6

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 4t | C7+ 39 44 47 50 | Am7 39 42 45 50 | Dm7 37 42 45 4t | G7
3t 44 47 52 | Em7 39 44 47 51 | A7 39 42 45 50 | Dm7 37 42 45 4t | G7

Download chord table Name6.json for using in MsyChords.


Phrygian

Phrygian

Base: C

Modality: Phrygian

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 50 | C 41 45 4x | Db
40 44 47 50 | C |

Download chord table Phrygian.json for using in MsyChords.


PhrygianHC

PhrygianHC

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

50 53 57 | Cm 4x 52 57 | Gm 48 50 55 | Fm
47 4t 52 | G 47 50 53 | Cm |
| | |

Download chord table PhrygianHC.json for using in MsyChords.


Power Chords

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 50 | Cp 45 50 55 | Fp 47 52 57 | Gp

Download chord table PowerC1.json for using in MsyChords.


Power Chords

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

40 47 50 | Cp 42 49 52 | Dp 43 4x 53 | Ebp

Download chord table PowerC2.json for using in MsyChords.


Power Chords

Base: Db

Modality: Chromatic

Score

Chord table

41 48 51 | Dbp 44 4t 54 | Ep 46 51 56 | Gbp
48 53 58 | Abp 49 54 59 | Ap |
| | |

Download chord table PowerC3.json for using in MsyChords.


Power Chords

Base: G

Modality: Chromatic

Score

Chord table

37 42 47 | Gp 38 43 48 | Abp 39 44 49 | Ap

Download chord table PowerC4.json for using in MsyChords.


Chromatisch

Chromatisch

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 54 57 | C 52 55 59 | Dm 51 55 59 | Dm7+
50 55 59 | Dm7 4t 55 59 | G7 4t 54 57 | C7+

Download chord table Chromatisch.json for using in MsyChords.


Circle

Circle

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 57 60 64 | C 45 59 60 65 | F 4t 54 5t 62 | Bm-
44 57 5t 64 | Em 49 54 59 60 | Am 42 55 59 62 | Dm
47 52 57 5t | G7 40 54 57 60 | C |

Download chord table Circle.json for using in MsyChords.


Backdoor

Backdoor

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

52 55 59 | Dm 4x 52 55 58 | Bb7
50 54 57 | C |

Download chord table Backdoor.json for using in MsyChords.


Guitar(CFGCa)

Guitar(CFGCa)

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 50 54 | C 35 40 45 49 50 55 | F 37 3t 42 47 4t 57 | G
40 44 47 50 54 | C 39 44 49 50 54 | Am 35 40 45 49 50 55 | F
37 3t 42 47 4t 57 | G 40 44 47 50 54 | C |

Download chord table Guitar(CFGCa).json for using in MsyChords.


Guitar(eaH7e)

Guitar(eaH7e)

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

40 47 50 53 57 60 | Cm 45 50 55 58 60 | Fm 47 4t 55 57 62 | G7
40 47 50 53 57 60 | Cm | |

Download chord table Guitar(EAH7E).json for using in MsyChords.


Guitar(GCDGe)

Guitar(GCDGe)

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 44 47 50 54 60 | C 45 49 50 55 59 | F 47 52 57 5t | G
40 44 47 50 54 60 | C 39 44 49 50 54 59 | Am 45 49 50 55 59 | F
47 52 57 5t | G 40 44 47 50 54 60 | C |

Download chord table Guitar(GCDGe).json for using in MsyChords.


Guitar-Friend

Guitar-Friend

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

42 49 52 55 59 62 | Dm7 47 4t 55 57 62 | G7
40 47 50 53 57 60 | Cm |

Download chord table Guitar-Friend.json for using in MsyChords.


Interrupted

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 54 60 | C 45 49 55 60 | F 37 47 52 5t | G
39 44 50 59 | Am 35 45 50 59 | F 37 44 50 57 | C
37 42 4t 57 | G 40 44 50 57 | C |

Download chord table Interrupted.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar0h

JGuitar0h guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

50 53 57 60 | Cm7 4x 53 57 60 | Cm7 48 53 56 60 | Ab7
47 52 55 5t | G7 | |

Download chord table JGuitar0h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar0l

JGuitar0l guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

40 47 4x 53 | Cm7 3x 47 50 53 | Cm7 38 46 50 52 | Ab7
37 45 4t 53 | G+7 | |

Download chord table JGuitar0l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar1h

JGuitar1h guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 55 59 64 | Dm9 4t 55 59 64 | G13 50 54 57 5t | C7+
49 54 57 60 | C6 | |

Download chord table JGuitar1h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar1l

JGuitar1l guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

42 50 55 59 | Dm7 42 4t 55 57 | G7 40 4t 54 57 | C7+
40 49 54 57 | C6 | |

Download chord table JGuitar1l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar2h

JGuitar2h guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 54 57 5t | C7+ 49 54 57 60 | Am7 49 52 55 60 | Dm7
47 52 55 5t | G7 4t 54 57 62 | Em7 49 54 57 61 | A7
49 52 55 60 | Dm7 47 52 55 5t | G7 |

Download chord table JGuitar2h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar2l

JGuitar2l guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 4t 54 | C7+ 39 47 50 54 | Am7 42 49 50 55 | Dm7
37 45 4t 52 | G7 44 4t 52 57 | Em7 39 47 51 54 | A7
42 49 50 55 | Dm7 37 45 4t 52 | G7 |

Download chord table JGuitar2l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar3h

JGuitar3h guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

50 57 5t 64 | C7+ 50 57 5x 63 | Cm7 50 55 59 63 | F7
4x 55 59 62 | Bb7+ 4x 55 58 61 | Bbm7 4x 53 57 61 | Eb7

Download chord table JGuitar3h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar3l

JGuitar3l guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

40 4t 54 57 | C7+ 40 4x 53 57 | Cm7 40 49 53 55 | F7
3x 49 52 55 | Bb7+ 3x 48 51 55 | Bbm7 3x 47 51 53 | Eb7

Download chord table JGuitar3l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar4h

JGuitar4h guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

50 57 5t 64 | C7+ 51 57 5x 64 | Db-7 52 59 60 65 | Dm7
53 59 60 66 | Eb-7 52 57 5t 64 | Em7 51 57 5t 64 | A9
52 59 60 65 | Dm7 52 57 5t 65 | G7 |

Download chord table JGuitar4h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar4l

JGuitar4l guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

40 47 4t 54 | C7+ 41 47 4x 54 | Db-7 42 49 50 55 | Dm7
43 49 50 56 | Eb-7 44 4t 52 57 | Em7 44 49 51 57 | A7
42 49 50 55 | Dm7 42 47 4t 55 | G7 |

Download chord table JGuitar4l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar5l

JGuitar5l guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 4t 54 | C7+ 42 46 50 54 | D9 42 45 50 54 | Dm9

Download chord table JGuitar5l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar5l3

JGuitar5l3 guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 4t 54 | C7+ 42 50 56 | D7 42 50 55 | Dm7
42 4t 55 | G7 40 4t 54 | C7+ |
| | |

Download chord table JGuitar5l3.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar6h

JGuitar6h guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

47 50 54 5t | C7+ 47 52 55 5x | Gm7 47 50 54 5x | C7
45 50 54 59 | F7+ | |

Download chord table JGuitar6h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar6l

JGuitar6l guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 4t 54 57 | C7+ 47 4x 55 59 | Fm9 40 4t 54 59 | C13
45 49 54 57 | F7+9 45 49 52 57 | F69 |
| | |

Download chord table JGuitar6l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar7h

JGuitar7h

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 57 5t 64 | C7+ 50 57 5x 64 | C7 50 55 59 64 | F7+ 50 55 58 63 | Fm7
4t 54 57 62 | Em7 4t 54 57 61 | A7 49 52 55 60 | Dm7 49 52 55 5t | G13
47 50 54 5t | C7+ 47 50 54 59 | C6 | |

Download chord table JGuitar7h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar7l

JGuitar7l

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

40 47 4t 54 | C7+ 40 47 4x 54 | C7 45 50 54 59 | F7+ 45 50 53 58 | Fm7
44 4t 52 57 | Em7 44 49 51 57 | A7 45 50 54 59 | Dm9 45 4t 54 59 | G13
44 4t 52 57 | C69 40 47 4t 54 | C7+ | |

Download chord table JGuitar7l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar8h

JGuitar8h

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

42 49 50 56 | D7 46 50 52 59 | D7 49 52 56 60 | D7 50 56 59 62 | D7 52 57 5t 65 | G7
4t 55 57 62 | G7 47 52 55 5t | G7 45 4t 52 57 | G7 43 4x 50 57 | Cm7 47 50 54 5x | C7

Download chord table JGuitar8h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar8l

JGuitar8l

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

42 46 50 | D7 42 45 4t | G7 40 44 4x | C7
40 43 49 | F7 | |

Download chord table JGuitar8l.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar9h

JGuitar9h

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

52 58 60 65 | Dm-7 47 55 5t 63 | G+7
50 57 5x 63 | Cm7 |

Download chord table JGuitar9h.json for using in MsyChords.


JGuitar9l

JGuitar9l

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

42 48 50 55 | Dm-7 37 45 4t 53 | G+7
40 47 4x 53 | Cm7 |

Download chord table JGuitar9l.json for using in MsyChords.


Jazz1

Jazz1

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

42 45 47 50 54 57 | Dm9 37 45 48 4t 51 57 | G79-
40 47 49 4t 54 57 | C9 |

Download chord table Jazz1.json for using in MsyChords.


Jazz2

Jazz2

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

42 50 54 55 57 | Dm9 37 45 4t 54 57 | G13
40 4t 52 54 57 | C9 |

Download chord table Jazz2.json for using in MsyChords.


Lev-2-22

Lev-2-22

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

42 46 50 54 5t | D7 37 45 4t 54 59 | G7 40 44 4x 52 59 | C7
35 43 49 52 57 | F7 | |

Download chord table Lev-2-22.json for using in MsyChords.


Lev-2-3

Lev-2-3

Base: Ab

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

3x 48 51 55 60 | Bbm7 43 47 51 54 5x | Eb7 38 57 5x 60 63 | Ab7+

Download chord table Lev-2-3.json for using in MsyChords.


Prog50

Prog50

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 54 57 | C 49 50 54 | Am 45 50 59 | F
47 52 5t | G 50 54 57 60 | C |
| | |

Download chord table Prog50.json for using in MsyChords.


Ragtime

Ragtime

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 54 57 60 | C 54 58 5t 62 | E7 49 54 57 61 | A7

Download chord table Ragtime.json for using in MsyChords.


Rootless

Rootless guitar

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

43 47 48 50 | Fm7 41 45 48 50 | Bbm7 41 43 47 50 | Eb7
40 43 47 4x | Ab7+ 45 48 50 53 | Db7+ 45 48 4t 53 | G13
44 47 4t 52 | C7+ 44 47 49 52 | C6 |

Download chord table Rootless.json for using in MsyChords.


Some more

Some more

Base: C

Modality: Major

Score

Chord table

50 53 57 60 | Cm 50 54 57 60 | C 50 55 57 60 | C

Download chord table Some more.json for using in MsyChords.


Turnaround1

Turnaround1 guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

40 43 47 4x | Cm7 3t 42 45 48 | Bm-7-
40 43 47 4x | Cm7 |

Download chord table Turnaround1.json for using in MsyChords.


Turnaround2

guitar

Base: C

Modality: Minor

Score

Chord table

40 43 47 4x | Cm7 41 44 47 4x | Gm-6
40 43 47 4x | Cm7 |

Download chord table Turnaround2.json for using in MsyChords.


Impressum: Music Synthesis Enterprise -- Bernhard Feiten -- bernhard.feiten@msye.com -- Am Triftpark 13, 13437 Berlin, Germany