Common Chord Progressions

Common chord progressions are one of the easiest ways to start songwriting. After writing some lyrics, students can sing them over these chords in order to turn those lyrics into a song. We have resources here focused on the most common chord progression in songwriting to get you started. These progressions are in thousands of songs and offer a way to get started that’s fast, easy, and fun.

Download All Chord Progression Handouts

Common Chord Progressions

Download Common Chord Progressions Handout

This handout includes some of the most common chord progressions in all of popular music. Literally thousands of songs have been written with these progressions.

Chords in Each Major Key

Download Chords in Each Major Key Handout

This handout includes the six major and minor chords in each key. These can be used for generating chord progressions or for transposing between keys.

Instrument Handouts

We have instrument handouts for Bass, Guitar, Piano, and Ukulele for each of these common chord progressions in the Key of C, D, and G. These include a pentatonic improvisation scale and chord diagrams for the chord progression. You can download them all, or go below to find the progression along with background tracks.

Download All Instrument Handouts

Progressions, Handouts, and Tracks

Open a progression to download its instrument handouts and browse background tracks by style and key.

1. I – V – vi – IV — 24 tracks
Download I – V – vi – IV Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

2. I – IV – V – IV — 24 tracks
Download I – IV – V – IV Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

3. I – vi – IV – V — 24 tracks
Download I – vi – IV – V Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

4. ii – IV – I – V — 24 tracks
Download ii – IV – I – V Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

5. vi – IV – I – V — 24 tracks
Download vi – IV – I – V Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

6. IV – iii – ii – I — 24 tracks
Download IV – iii – ii – I Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

7. ii – V – I – vi — 24 tracks
Download ii – V – I – vi Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

8. I – vi – ii – V — 24 tracks
Download I – vi – ii – V Handouts

Anarchy Punk Rock BPM 165

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Angsty Pop 100BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Country Wasteland 140BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 12 8 BPM 65

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Pop Ballad 65BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Rock Ballad 85BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Soul Funk BPM 85

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G

Uplifting Rock 120 BPM

Key of C   ·   Key of D   ·   Key of G