Guitar Chord Progressions

This is a list of guitar chord progressions. We recommend that you first understand the Harmonic Map for any given key, then apply that understanding to this list by playing through it. Understanding chord numbering is paramount to using these progressions.

You might use the key of C to play through these common progressions. You can also look at the 7ths in C for similar chord streams that might include 7ths.

When a lower case i is used, this means to play a minor tonic chord. Any of these chords can be fragmented down to a R5 (power chord). All of these progressions are triadic, yet can be extended to 7, 9, 11, & 13 type chords.

For a given Roman Numeral, play 4 beats each (or try 3 beats per chord). You can also extend the number of measures (or beats) to any number.

In a follow up lesson, we provide a list of strumming patterns.

I, IV, V Progressions (also see Blues below)

• I-IV-V-I
• I-V-IV-V
• I-IV-V-IV
• I-IV

Streams with ii's and vi's

• ii-V-I
• I-vi-ii-V-I
• I-vi-IV-V-I
• vi-IV-V-ii
• I-IV-ii-V-I
• I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V (Pachelbel's Canon)
• I-vii-vi-vii

Blues

• I-I-IV-IV
  V-V-I-V (8 bar)
• I-I-I-I
  IV-IV-I-I
  V-V-I-I (12 bar)
• I-I-I-I
  IV-IV-I-I
  V-IV-I-I (12 bar)
• I-IV-I-I
  IV-IV-I-I
  V-IV-I-V (12 bar)

Flat Majors

• I-VII-VI-V
• I-VII-VI-VII
• I-VI-VII-V
• I-VII-IV-I
• i-VII-IV-IV
• i-i-V-VII
• i-V-VII-VII

That's a good starter list. Pick a key and go to it.

Again, check out the Harmonic Map for guitar chord progressions.