Popular Chords
If you're looking for some common chord progressions to use in your improvization or just to make yourself a more versatile musician, look no further! Below you'll find various progressions, able to be transposed into any key, with the accompanying sheet music and songs where this progression is featured.
If you have suggestion for this list, please email help@popularchords.com. And if you want to do even more exploring with progressions, you can see which songs have a certain progression at Hooktheory.com and refer to your chord book and circle of fifths tool!
The "Journey" Progression (I - V - vi - IV)
I call this the Journey progression because one of the most common places you'll hear it is in Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. Arguably the most common progression in popular music, you'll hear this one everywhere. There's even a whole video that's just a compilation of these songs stitched together.
Examples
Don't Stop Believin', JourneyLet It Be, The BeatlesI'm Yours, Jason MrazThe "Walk Down" Progression (I - vi - IV - V)
This progression is recognizable right away because of the natural walking down movement of the bass line. It's often, but not always, associated with slower, sadder songs.
Examples
She's Everything, Brad PaisleyMillion Reasons, Lady GagaThe Reason, Hoobastank(not the progression exactly because it has anextra return to the I, but it's the same idea)
Deceptive Cadence (I - iv - IV - V - vi)
Similar to the walk down progression, but useful in most any progression really, when you have a V chord (G in the key of C for example) and you're not quite ready to end the progression, you can move it up to the vi (Am in the key of C). Because everyone expects the V chord to resolve to the I, this is considered "deceptive".
The "Starts on 4" (IV - V - I - vi)
If you want a chord progression that already has a bit of tension in it rather than starting on the root of the key, this one is a great choice.