Piano chord progressions worth learning.

The ubiquitous 'four chord' progression used in countless modern hits.

C

vi - IV - I - V (Sensitive Epic Loop)

A minor-starting variation of the Axis progression, often used for emotional building.

vi - I - V - IV

Minor to major mix loop.

ii - V - I (Jazz Foundation)

The most fundamental building block in jazz music.

Pachelbel Long (Full Canon)

The full extended Pachelbel Canon progression.

I - vi - IV - V (50s Doo-Wop)

Classic nostalgic progression common in the 1950s.

I - bVII - IV (Mixolydian Rock)

Mixolydian sound used in many classic rock anthems.

IV - iv - I

Standard minor plagal cadence.

vi - V - IV - V (The 'Falling' Epic)

A powerful descending pattern with Spanish flavor.

i - VI - III - VII

Minor pop staple.

I - V - IV - iv

Classic emotional resolution.

IV - V - iii - vi (Royal Road)

Anime and J-Pop staple progression.

Imaj7 - vi7 - ii7 - V7

R&BIntermediate

Smooth R&B turnaround.

I - IV - V (Basic Rock/Folk)

The foundation of thousands of rock, folk, and country songs.

I - V/vii - vi - V

BalladBeginner

Descending bass line movement.

I - bIII - bVII - IV

Grunge style loop.

i - VI - iv - V

Moody minor loop.

vi - VII - i

ClassicalBeginner

Oriental-sounding minor resolution.

I - vi - ii - V (Jazz Turnaround)

JazzBeginner

A standard jazz turnaround often used for transitions.

i - bVI - bVII

Heroic minor resolution.

i - VII - VI - V

Andalusian cadence.

i - VI - VII - i

Epic minor resolution.

ii - V - iii - vi

Common R&B movement.

vi - IV - ii - V

Moody minor turnaround.

I - I7 - IV - iv

Beatles-style minor iv chord movement.

I - IV - vi - V (Modern Pop Variation)

A gentle and emotional major key progression.

I - bVII - IV - I

Classic rock resolution loop.

i - IV - i

Major IV in a minor key (Dorian).

The Circle Loop (I-V-IV-V-vi-V-IV-V)

Extended pop loop covering most major scale degrees.

IVmaj7 - iii7 - ii7 - Imaj7

R&BAdvanced

Stepwise smooth resolution.

I - III - IV

Surprising major third movement.

vi - ii - V - I

Foundational jazz circle loop.

I - IV7 - I - V7

BluesIntermediate

Foundational blues loop.

IV - V - vi - I

Resolve loop.

i - VII - III - VI

Stepwise minor descent.

ii7 - V7 - Imaj7 - VI7

The cycle of fifths in a jazz context.

I - I/III - IV - V

GospelBeginner

Walking up movement (Gospel).

I - V - ii - IV

Modern alternative pop loop.

I - vi - iii - IV

Stable hook movement.

I - V - IV (Classic Rock Loop)

Stones-style foundation for simple rock tracks.

IV - I - V - vi

Pop loop starting on the four chord.

i - v - VI - VII

Ascending minor pattern.

ii - V - i

The minor key foundation in jazz.

I - iii - vi - IV

BalladBeginner

Stable emotional movement.

vi - II7 - ii - V

Jazz loop with secondary dominant.

I - vii - III - vi

Advanced

Strong minor resolution (Soul).

I - ii - V - I

ClassicalBeginner

The foundation of all major key music.

I - bIII - IV

Dark rock 'spider walk'.

i - III - VII - VI

Jumping minor pattern.

I - V/vi - vi - IV

Intermediate

Secondary dominant soul movement.

I - bVII - vi - bVI

RockAdvanced

Descending chromatic line.

vi - V - I - IV

Moody loop with a resolve to the four.

I - vi - IV - iv

GospelBeginner

Amen variation (Gospel).

i - VII - v - VI

Unusual minor key loop.

I - IV - bVI - bVII

Strong major movement loop.

I - IV - bIII - bVII

Heavy blues rock movement.

I - IV - V - IV

Rock standard loop.

iii - vi - ii - V

Extended diatonic turnaround.

ii - I/III - IV - V

Intermediate

Ascending soul movement.

vi - IV - V - I

Classic resolution cycle.

I - V - bVII - IV

Anthematic rock loop.

I - II - IV - I

RockAdvanced

Bright Lydian sound with major II.

i - iv - V

BluesBeginner

Minor blues foundation.

i - V - VI - iv

Emotional ballad movement.

i - iv - VI - i

Moody minor loop.

I - iii - IV - iv

Romantic era resolution.

I - V - IV - vi

Stable pop/rock walk.

I - IV - ii - V

Standard pop turnaround.

I - IV - V - bVII

Mixolydian rock walk.

I - V - vi - iii

Descending pop loop.

vi - iii - IV - I

Downward minor loop.

i - iv - VI - V

Strong minor cadence.

I - #i°7 - ii - V

Passing diminished movement.

I - ii - V - IV

Folk-style turnaround loop.

I - IV - #iv°7 - V

GospelIntermediate

Gospel chromatic ascent.

I - bVI - I

Majestic third-leap movement.

I - ii - IV - V

Smooth scalar movement.

i - iv - VII - III

Minor key cycle.

I - vi - ii - bII7

Alt turnaround.

I - IV - bVII - IV

Bluesy rock loop.

I - viiø7 - III7 - vi

Complex minor key resolve.

i - bIII - IV - bVI

Experimental minor loop.

vi - V/V - V - I

Strong classical cadence.

IV - I - ii - V

Beginner

Soulful turnaround movement.

I - iii - IV - V

Ascending pop pattern.

I - vi - iii - V

Stable pop movement loop.

I - iii - bIII - ii

BalladAdvanced

Chromatic passing chord pattern.

I - v - I

Mixolydian modal sound.

V - IV - I - V

Loop starting on the dominant.

iv - i - V - i

ClassicalBeginner

Classical minor cadence.

i - v - iv - bVI

Deeply somber minor movement.

I - IV - I - V

Simple alternating loop.

ii - bII7 - I

Jazz turnaround with tritone substitution.

I - V - vi - I

Simple resolving loop.

I - ii - iii - IV

Stepwise ascending loop.

i - bII - i

ClassicalAdvanced

Classic Phrygian darkness.

vi - bVI7 - V - bII7

Complex chromatic descent.

IV - #iv°7 - I/V - VI7

GospelAdvanced

Complex gospel resolve.

i - v - i