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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

I

V

vi

IV

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

vi

IV

I

V

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

IV

I

V

vi or vi/V

Examples: What's my age again?, Umbrella - Rihanna, Dragosta Din Tei, Boulevard of broken dreams (refrain), Alejandro - Lady Gaga

The Andalusian cadence

i

bVII

bVI

V

Examples: Hit the road Jack, Good vibrations - The Beach Boys, Happy together, Vanina

The Aeolian vamp

i

bVII

bVI

bVII

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

I

vi

IV

V

Examples: I will always love you, Crocodile rock, Baby - Justin Bieber

The Major Scale vamp

I

V

IV

V or I

Examples: Your body is a wonderland, All the small things - Blink 182

The Mixolydian vamp

I

bVII

IV

I

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

i

bIII

bVII

IV

Examples: Wonderwall, Boulevard of broken dreams (couplet), Mad world, Pumped up kids, Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

The "Can't Stop" progression

i

bVII

v

bVI

Examples: Can't stop, Can't hold us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

The "Closing Time" progression

I

V

ii

IV

Examples: SOS - ABBA, Believe - Cher, All Star (Shrek), Closing time - Semisonic

the "More than a feeling" progression

I

IV

vi

V

Examples: More than a feeling, Mr Brightside - The Killers

Classic blues slow change

I	I	I	I
IV	IV	I	I
V	IV	I	V

Classic blues quick change

I	IV	I	I
IV	IV	I	I
V	IV	I	V

Blues rock

I	IV	I	I
IV	IV	I	I
V	V	I	I

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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