Chord Progression Chart, Part 2
Now we’ve uncovered every chord progression consisting of three chords that exists in standard diatonic harmony. Now we can make a more advanced chord progression chart by adding a fourth chord to each of these. Assuming the fourth chord will be new to the progression, there are four possible variations of each progression, resulting in 120 chord progressions that describe just about every song ever written.
Note: you can click on a row to highlight. This may help you avoid losing your place.
4- Chord Progressions. (120 possibilities)
| I–ii–iii–IV | I–iii–ii–IV | I–IV–ii–iii | I–V–ii–iii | I–vi–ii–iii | I–vii°–ii–iii |
| I–ii–iii–V | I–iii–ii–V | I–IV–ii–V | I–V–ii–IV | I–vi–ii–IV | I–vii°–ii–IV |
| I–ii–iii–vi | I–iii–ii–vi | I–IV–ii–vi | I–V–ii–vi | I–vi–ii–V | I–vii°–ii–V |
| I–ii–iii–vii° | I–iii–ii–vii° | I–IV–ii–vii° | I–V–ii–vii° | I–vi–ii–vii° | I–vii°–ii–vi |
| I–ii–IV–iii | I–iii–IV–ii | I–IV–iii–ii | I–V–iii–ii | I–vi–iii–ii | I–vii°–iii–ii |
| I–ii–IV–V | I–iii–IV–V | I–IV–iii–V | I–V–iii–IV | I–vi–iii–IV | I–vii°–iii–IV |
| I–ii–IV–vi | I–iii–IV–vi | I–IV–iii–vi | I–V–iii–vi | I–vi–iii–V | I–vii°–iii–V |
| I–ii–IV–vii° | I–iii–IV–vii° | I–IV–iii–vii° | I–V–iii–vii° | I–vi–iii–vii° | I–vii°–iii–vi |
| I–ii–V–iii | I–iii–V–ii | I–IV–V–ii | I–V–IV–ii | I–vi–IV–ii | I–vii°–IV–ii |
| I–ii–V–IV | I–iii–V–IV | I–IV–V–iii | I–V–IV–iii | I–vi–IV–iii | I–vii°–IV–iii |
| I–ii–V–vi | I–iii–V–vi | I–IV–V–vi | I–V–IV–vi | I–vi–IV–V | I–vii°–IV–V |
| I–ii–V–vii° | I–iii–V–vii° | I–IV–V–vii° | I–V–IV–vii° | I–vi–IV–vii° | I–vii°–IV–vi |
| I–ii–vi–iii | I–iii–vi–ii | I–IV–vi–ii | I–V–vi–ii | I–vi–V–ii | I–vii°–V–ii |
| I–ii–vi–IV | I–iii–vi–IV | I–IV–vi–iii | I–V–vi–iii | I–vi–V–iii | I–vii°–V–iii |
| I–ii–vi–V | I–iii–vi–V | I–IV–vi–V | I–V–vi–IV | I–vi–V–IV | I–vii°–V–IV |
| I–ii–vi–vii° | I–iii–vi–vii° | I–IV–vi–vii° | I–V–vi–vii° | I–vi–V–vii° | I–vii°–V–vi |
| I–ii–vii°–iii | I–iii–vii°–ii | I–IV–vii°–ii | I–V–vii°–ii | I–vi–vii°–ii | I–vii°–vi–ii |
| I–ii–vii°–IV | I–iii–vii°–IV | I–IV–vii°–iii | I–V–vii°–iii | I–vi–vii°–iii | I–vii°–vi–iii |
| I–ii–vii°–V | I–iii–vii°–V | I–IV–vii°–V | I–V–vii°–IV | I–vi–vii°–IV | I–vii°–vi–IV |
| I–ii–vii°–vi | I–iii–vii°–vi | I–IV–vii°–vi | I–V–vii°–vi | I–vi–vii°–V | I–vii°–vi–V |
Key Tasks
- Play through all of these chord progressions. (Yes, all of them!)
- Remember to write down any that are surprising or interesting. If you like a chord progression now, you will probably still like it in 10 years.
- Of the chord progressions you enjoyed, were there any common elements? For instance, perhaps you enjoyed most of the progressions that went from “I” to “IV”. Make note of any such coincidences. Keep these observations in mind in the future as you come up with your own chord progressions.
- Try voice-leading your favorite progressions, which will help you to really unlock the elements that make a chord progression effective.
- Advanced players may want to try converting the chords into four-part chords.
As the creator of Hub Guitar, Grey has compiled hundreds of guitar lessons, written several books, and filmed hundreds of video lessons. He teaches private lessons in his Boston studio, as well as via video chat through TakeLessons.