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Chord progression generator

Roman numerals identify each chord by scale degree and quality. In C major, I–V–vi–IV is C–G–Am–F; the numerals keep the same meaning when the key changes.

Pop loop in C major.

I–V–vi–IV in C major

Tonic I and dominant V give way to vi and IV before the loop returns to I.

Verse Roman numerals: I – V – vi – IV

  1. IC
  2. VG
  3. viAm
  4. IVF

Verse

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  2. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

  3. viAm

    vi is diatonic to C major on scale degree 6.

  4. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C major on scale degree 4.

Chorus

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  2. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

  3. viAm

    vi is diatonic to C major on scale degree 6.

  4. bVIIBb

    bVII is borrowed from the parallel minor of C major (C minor).

C321
G213
Am231
F134211
Bb12341

Other keys that are easier on guitar

G major, D major, A major

See the I–V–vi–IV progression in every key.

Progression examples

Pop loop in C major

Verse

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  2. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

  3. viAm

    vi is diatonic to C major on scale degree 6.

  4. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C major on scale degree 4.

Chorus

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  2. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

  3. viAm

    vi is diatonic to C major on scale degree 6.

  4. bVIIBb

    bVII is borrowed from the parallel minor of C major (C minor).

Pop variant in C major

Verse

  1. viAm

    vi is diatonic to C major on scale degree 6.

  2. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C major on scale degree 4.

  3. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  4. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

Chorus

  1. IC

    I replaces vi with C major, the relative major of A minor.

  2. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C major on scale degree 4.

  3. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  4. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

I–vi–IV–V in C major

Verse

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  2. viAm

    vi is diatonic to C major on scale degree 6.

  3. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C major on scale degree 4.

  4. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

Chorus

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C major on scale degree 1.

  2. viAm

    vi is diatonic to C major on scale degree 6.

  3. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C major on scale degree 4.

  4. V/VD

    V/V is the secondary dominant of G.

  5. VG

    V is diatonic to C major on scale degree 5.

Folk / country in A minor

Verse

  1. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

  2. ivDm

    iv is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 4.

  3. vEm

    v is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 5.

  4. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

Chorus

  1. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

  2. IVD

    IV is borrowed from the parallel major of A minor (A major).

  3. vEm

    v is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 5.

  4. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

Jazz ii–V–I in A minor

Verse

  1. ii°Bdim

    ii° is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 2.

  2. VE

    V is the major dominant in A harmonic minor.

  3. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

Chorus

  1. ii°Bdim

    ii° is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 2.

  2. V/VB

    V/V is the secondary dominant of E.

  3. VE

    V is the major dominant in A harmonic minor.

  4. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

12-bar blues in C major

Verse

  1. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  2. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  3. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  4. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  5. IV7F7

    IV7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 4 in the 12-bar blues form.

  6. IV7F7

    IV7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 4 in the 12-bar blues form.

  7. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  8. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  9. V7G7

    V7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 5 in the 12-bar blues form.

  10. IV7F7

    IV7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 4 in the 12-bar blues form.

  11. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  12. V7G7

    V7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 5 in the 12-bar blues form.

Chorus

  1. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  2. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  3. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  4. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  5. IV7F7

    IV7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 4 in the 12-bar blues form.

  6. IV7F7

    IV7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 4 in the 12-bar blues form.

  7. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  8. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  9. V/VD

    V/V is the secondary dominant of G7.

  10. V7G7

    V7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 5 in the 12-bar blues form.

  11. IV7F7

    IV7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 4 in the 12-bar blues form.

  12. I7C7

    I7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 1 in the 12-bar blues form.

  13. V7G7

    V7 is a dominant seventh on scale degree 5 in the 12-bar blues form.

Minor / Andalusian in A minor

Verse

  1. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

  2. VIIG

    VII is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 7.

  3. VIF

    VI is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 6.

  4. VE

    V is the major dominant in A harmonic minor.

Chorus

  1. iAm

    i is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 1.

  2. VIIG

    VII is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 7.

  3. VIF

    VI is diatonic to A minor on scale degree 6.

  4. V/VB

    V/V is the secondary dominant of E.

  5. VE

    V is the major dominant in A harmonic minor.

Dorian vamp in D Dorian

Verse

  1. iDm

    i is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 1.

  2. IVG

    IV is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 4.

  3. iDm

    i is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 1.

  4. IVG

    IV is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 4.

Chorus

  1. iDm

    i is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 1.

  2. IVG

    IV is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 4.

  3. iDm

    i is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 1.

  4. IVG

    IV is diatonic to D Dorian on scale degree 4.

Mixolydian rock in C Mixolydian

Verse

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 1.

  2. bVIIBb

    bVII is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 7.

  3. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 4.

  4. IC

    I is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 1.

Chorus

  1. IC

    I is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 1.

  2. bVIIBb

    bVII is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 7.

  3. IVF

    IV is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 4.

  4. IC

    I is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 1.

  5. V/VD

    V/V is the secondary dominant of Gm.

  6. VGm

    V is diatonic to C Mixolydian on scale degree 5.