Common chord progressions David Benett - 7 super common chord progressions and why they work David Benett - 6 more common chord progressions and why they work
The Axis progression
Examples: Let it be, Take on me, Someone like you, Don't step believin', Can you feel the love tonight, Let it go
The Other Axis progression
Examples: Numb - Linkin Park, Kids - MGMT, Africa - Toto, Rivers flow in you (piano thingy), Complicated - Avril Lavigne, Grenade, San Francisco, Save tonight
The third axis progression
Examples: What's my age again?, Umbrella - Rihanna, Dragosta Din Tei, Boulevard of broken dreams (refrain), Alejandro - Lady Gaga
The Andalusian cadence
Examples: Hit the road Jack, Good vibrations - The Beach Boys, Happy together, Vanina
The Aeolian vamp
Examples: Rolling in the deep, All along the watchtower, Stairway to heaven, My hear will go on, Somebody that I used to know
The Doo-Woop change
Examples: I will always love you, Crocodile rock, Baby - Justin Bieber
The Major Scale vamp
Examples: Your body is a wonderland, All the small things - Blink 182
The Mixolydian vamp
Examples: Hey Jude (Lalalalaa), Sympathy for the devil, Sweet child o' mine, Royals - Lorde, Sweet home Alabama
Pachelbel's Canon
I V vi iii or III IV I IV or II or ii or V V
Examples: Streets of London - Ralph McTell, Eyes of the word - Fleetwood Mac
The Plagal Cascade
Examples: Wonderwall, Boulevard of broken dreams (couplet), Mad world, Pumped up kids, Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
The "Can't Stop" progression
Examples: Can't stop, Can't hold us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
The "Closing Time" progression
Examples: SOS - ABBA, Believe - Cher, All Star (Shrek), Closing time - Semisonic
the "More than a feeling" progression
Examples: More than a feeling, Mr Brightside - The Killers
Classic blues slow change Classic blues quick change Blues rock Jazz Bossa Nova - C minor Backing track
Dm7b5 = x5656x
Fdim7 = 1x0101
Cm Cm Dm7b5 G7 x4 Ebmaj7 Ebmaj7 Fm Bb7 x2 Ebmaj7 Ab Dm7b5 G7 Abmaj7 Dm7b5 Fdim7 G7
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