Chord Progression Generator
Type the chords (C G Am F) or pick a common progression, a style and a BPM, and press Play: piano, guitar or keyboard, bass and drums play the progression on a loop, with the current chord highlighted. Use it to practice chord changes, improvise, sing along or try out an idea for a song.
How to use it
- Type the chords separated by spaces or choose one of the common progressions. No ideas? Tap Random.
- Choose the style and the instrument that plays the chords.
- Press Play. The current chord appears large on the display, with the next one beside it.
- Use −½ and +½ to change the key and −5 and +5 to change the BPM, even while it plays.
- To send the backing track to someone, tap Copy link.
Help and explanations
The sound is synthesized on your device, with nothing to download and no account. You can transpose and change the BPM while the backing track is playing, and send it to someone with a link.
The most common chord progressions
I–V–vi–IV (in C: C G Am F) runs through countless pop, rock and country songs. Starting from the vi, vi–IV–I–V (Am F C G) uses the same chords and sounds more melancholy. I–vi–IV–V (C Am F G) is the classic progression of 1950s doo-wop.
ii–V–I (Dm7 G7 Cmaj7) is the cadence of jazz and bossa nova. The 12-bar blues has I7 for four bars, IV7 for two, I7 for two, then V7, IV7, I7 and V7 to go back to the top. The Andalusian cadence (Am G F E) steps down to the major chord on the 5th degree.
What I–V–vi–IV means
Roman numerals are the degrees of the key: I is the chord built on the first note of the scale, V the one on the fifth, and so on. Uppercase means a major chord; lowercase, a minor chord. That is why the same progression works in any key: I–V–vi–IV in G is G D Em C. The chords of every key are listed in chords in a key.
The backing styles
In samba, the surdo marks the second beat while the tamborim and the cavaquinho play the telecoteco pattern. In bossa nova, the bass moves in dotted quarter notes and the rim click follows the clave. Baião brings in the zabumba and the triangle; country uses an alternating bass on 1 and 3 with the strum on 2 and 4. The blues has a shuffle feel and the waltz is in 3/4.
It is a practice backing track with synthesized instruments, not a recording: the timing is exact and each part can be switched off so you can play it yourself.
Tips
- To practice chord changes, use 2 beats per bar at a low BPM (60 to 70) and speed up little by little.
- To improvise over C G Am F, the A minor pentatonic fits every chord.
- Separate bars with a vertical bar to put two chords in the same bar:
| C G | Am F |. - Turn off the part you are going to play: the bass if you play bass, the drums if you only want the harmony.
- Have the chords in another key? Run them through the chord transposer first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common chord progression?
I–V–vi–IV: in C, C G Am F; in G, G D Em C. The most common variation is the same progression starting from the vi: Am F C G.
How does the 12-bar blues work?
It uses three seventh chords: I7 for the first four bars, IV7 for two, I7 for two, then V7, IV7, I7 and V7 to go back to the top. In A: A7 ×4, D7 ×2, A7 ×2, E7, D7, A7, E7.
What is a ii–V–I?
The most common cadence in jazz and bossa nova: a minor seventh chord on the 2nd degree, a dominant seventh on the 5th and a major seventh chord on the 1st. In C: Dm7 G7 Cmaj7.
Can I save my progression?
It stays in your browser and comes back when you open the page again. To keep it somewhere else or send it to someone, tap Copy link: the link carries the chords, style, BPM and instrument, with no sign-up.
How do I write two chords in the same bar?
Separate the bars with a vertical bar: | C G | Am F | plays C and G in the first bar, half the bar each, and Am and F in the second. Without bars, each chord takes a whole bar. The % sign repeats the previous chord.
Does the backing track work on a phone?
It works in the browser on phones and computers, and the screen stays on while it plays. Use the speaker or wired headphones: over Bluetooth the sound arrives a little late, although the tempo stays steady.