Chord Progression Generator

- May 10, 2025
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Generate chord progressions for your compositions. Choose a key, select a genre, and customise your progression with various options.

Chord Progression Settings

Genre Presets
Progression Options

Advanced Options

Your Chord Progression

Roman Numeral Analysis
Common Uses

Variations

Export Options

Music Theory Reference

Common Chord Progressions
  • I-IV-V: The most common progression in popular music
  • I-V-vi-IV: The "pop-punk" progression, used in countless hits
  • ii-V-I: The foundation of jazz harmony
  • I-vi-IV-V: The "doo-wop" progression from the 1950s and 60s
  • vi-IV-I-V: The "Axis of Awesome" progression (same chords as I-V-vi-IV, different start)
Chord Functions
  • Tonic (I): Home chord, creates stability and resolution
  • Subdominant (IV): Creates movement away from tonic
  • Dominant (V): Creates tension that wants to resolve to tonic
  • Submediant (vi): Related to tonic, creates softer mood
  • Supertonic (ii): Often used before dominant chords
  • Mediant (iii): Creates ambiguous feeling, less common
  • Leading Tone (vii°): Creates strong tension toward tonic
Saved Progressions

No saved progressions yet. Generate and save some progressions!

What is a Chord Progression Generator?

A Chord Progression Generator is a handy tool for musicians and songwriters. It helps you create unique chord progressions in various musical styles. By choosing different settings like key, scale type, and genre, you can easily customise the chords to suit your composition. This generator takes the guesswork out of songwriting, allowing you to focus more on your creativity.

Selecting Key and Scale Types

When using the Chord Progression Generator, you start by selecting the key and scale type. This is essential because it shapes the mood and flavour of your Music. Here are some choices you can make:

  • Keys: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and their sharps/flats
  • Scale Types: Major, Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Dorian, and Mixolydian

These options help establish the foundation for your chord progressions, making it easier to create something that sounds great.

Choosing Your Genre

Genre plays a significant role in shaping your music's character. The Chord Progression Generator offers various genre presets to choose from. Some of the genres available include:

  • Pop
  • Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Folk
  • EDM

This way, you can tailor your chord progression to fit the style you're aiming for, whether it's a catchy pop tune or a smooth jazz ballad.

Customising Progression Length and Complexity

You can decide on the length of your chord progression and how complex it is. The generator allows you to select between two to eight chords. You can also choose the type of chords:

  • Basic: Simple triads
  • Extended: Includes 7ths
  • Advanced: Features 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths

This flexibility means you can create anything from simple, catchy hooks to intricate harmonic structures.

Advanced Options for Experienced Musicians

If you're more experienced, the generator has advanced options to take your progressions to the next level. You can allow inversions, use modal borrowing, or add secondary dominants. Each of these features adds depth and variety to your music. You can also select a specific ending cadence, which defines how your progression resolves, providing a final touch to your composition.

Generating and Playing Your Progressions

Once you’ve configured your settings, you can generate your chord progression. The generator will create a sequence based on your preferences. You can even play the chords back to hear how they sound. This is a great way to experiment with different ideas and find the perfect sound for your track.

Saving and Exporting Your Work

After generating a chord progression, you might want to save your work for future reference. The tool allows you to copy your progression to the clipboard or save it in different formats. Options include text, Roman numerals, or Nashville numbers. This ensures you can easily share your music ideas or revisit them later.

Understanding Music Theory with the Generator

The Chord Progression Generator also serves as a learning tool. It offers insights into common chord progressions and their functions. For instance, you can explore the I-IV-V progression, which is widely used in music, or learn about the roles of various chords like the tonic, dominant, and subdominant. This knowledge enriches your songwriting skills, helping you create more compelling music.