Chord progression generator

A new progression for any key and mood, in Roman numerals, with passing, borrowed and secondary chords. A band plays it.

Stuck on the same four chords? Pick a mood and a key and the generator writes a progression for it, the way songwriters build them: home chords, chords that move away, and chords that pull back. Every progression loops back to its first chord, so it works as a verse, a chorus or a riff.

Each mood has its own sound. Happy keeps to bright major moves, sad and epic lean on the minor key with its ♭VI and ♭VII, romantic adds soft minor chords and gentle changes, and Bollywood-style uses the moves heard in Hindi film songs. Choose 4 or 8 bars; an 8-bar progression answers its first phrase.

Every chord is shown as a Roman numeral and as a chord name, so you learn why it works and can play it in any key. Turn on passing chords for a diminished chord or a walking bass between two chords. In Advanced, add sevenths and richer colours, chords borrowed from the parallel key, and secondary dominants. Each added chord says what it is and what it does.

Press Play and a band plays it: strummed guitar, bass and drums in a groove that suits the mood. Change one bar with its dice, see the shapes with the easiest capo, then send the progression to the backing track player to solo over it, or to the chord transposer.

How to use it

  1. Pick a mood and a key.
  2. Choose 4 or 8 bars, and passing chords if you like.
  3. Tap New progression until one grabs you.
  4. Press Play to hear it with a band; tap a chord to hear it alone.
  5. Change a bar with its dice, set a capo, then send it to the backing track player or the transposer.

Common questions

What do the Roman numerals mean?

They number the chords of the key: I is the home chord, IV and V the chords built on the 4th and 5th notes, and lowercase numerals (ii, iii, vi) are minor chords. Because they don’t name a key, the same progression works in every key.

What is a passing chord?

A chord on the way between two others, usually for half a bar: a diminished chord a half step below the next chord, or a chord with a different bass note so the bass walks by step.

What are borrowed chords?

Chords from the parallel key: in C major, borrowing from C minor gives Fm (iv), A♭ (♭VI) and B♭ (♭VII). They add colour without leaving the key.

What is a secondary dominant?

The V7 of a chord other than I. In C, E7 is the V7 of Am, so playing E7 before Am pulls strongly into it.

Can I use these progressions in my songs?

Yes. Chord progressions are not owned by anyone; they are the building blocks every songwriter uses.

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