10 Common Chord Progressions Every Songwriter Should Know

Most songs you love are built on a handful of common chord progressions, and once you can spot them you can write your own in minutes. A chord progression is just an ordered series of chords that repeats to support a melody. Below are ten patterns that show up across pop, rock, folk and soul, written out in real keys with chord symbols you can play right away.

To keep things readable I’ll mostly use the key of C major, where the diatonic chords are C, Dm, Em, F, G and Am. If you understand how those chords come from the scale, read our guide to diatonic chords first.

How chord progressions are numbered

Musicians label chords with Roman numerals based on their scale degree, so a progression works in any key. Uppercase means major (I, IV, V), lowercase means minor (ii, iii, vi), and a small circle marks the diminished chord (vii°). In C major: I = C, ii = Dm, iii = Em, IV = F, V = G, vi = Am, vii° = Bdim. This is the same idea behind the Nashville number system, which session players use to chart songs on the fly.

The 10 common chord progressions

1. I–V–vi–IV (C–G–Am–F). The famous “four-chord” pop progression behind countless hits. Bright and resolved.
2. vi–IV–I–V (Am–F–C–G). The same four chords starting on the minor vi, which gives a more reflective, emotional feel.
3. I–IV–V (C–F–G). The backbone of rock and roll, blues and folk. Three chords, endless songs.
4. I–vi–IV–V (C–Am–F–G). The classic “doo-wop” or 50s progression, warm and nostalgic.
5. ii–V–I (Dm–G–C). The cornerstone of jazz. The ii pulls to V, which resolves strongly to I.
6. I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V (Canon). Pachelbel’s descending sequence, used in pop ballads.
7. i–VI–III–VII (Am–F–C–G in A minor). A driving minor-key loop common in pop and EDM.
8. i–iv–v (Am–Dm–Em). A dark, classical-leaning minor progression.
9. I–IV (C–F). A simple two-chord vamp that powers folk, gospel and lo-fi tracks.
10. 12-bar blues (I–I–I–I–IV–IV–I–I–V–IV–I–V). The blueprint for blues and early rock. See our breakdown of the 12-bar blues progression.

How to make these progressions your own

These shapes are starting points, not rules. Try swapping one chord for its relative minor (for example, replace C with Am), changing the order, or holding each chord for a different number of bars. You can also add color with suspended chords like Csus4 before resolving to C. Once the chords feel good, write a tune on top using our guide to writing a melody over chords.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common chord progression in pop music?

The I–V–vi–IV progression (C–G–Am–F in C major) is the most widely used. It sounds satisfying because it ends on the IV chord, which gently pulls back to the I when the loop repeats.

Do chord progressions get copyrighted?

No. Chord progressions themselves are considered common musical building blocks and are not protected by copyright. What can be protected is a specific melody, lyric and recording, so you’re free to use any progression here.

How many chords do I need to write a song?

Two or three is plenty. A huge number of songs use only I, IV and V. Start with three chords you can change between cleanly, get a groove going, then add a fourth chord once the basic loop feels musical.