These fifteen progressions are responsible for 90% of the songs that make you feel something deep. Each one is shown here in all 12 keys, ready to play the moment you sit down with a guitar or piano.
1. Universal
I → V → vi → IV
C: C G Am F G: G D Em C D: D A Bm G A: A E F#m D E: E B C#m A B: B F# G#m E F: F C Dm Bb Bb: Bb F Gm Eb Eb: Eb Bb Cm Ab Ab: Ab Eb Fm Db Db: Db Ab Bbm Gb Gb: Gb Db Ebm B
Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’”, Adele “Someone Like You”, Taylor Swift, The Beatles
2. Heartfelt
vi → IV → I → V
C: Am F C G G: Em C G D D: Bm G D A A: F#m D A E E: C#m A E B B: G#m E B F# F: Dm Bb F C Bb: Gm Eb Bb F Eb: Cm Ab Eb Bb Ab: Fm Db Ab Eb Db: Bbm Gb Db Ab Gb: Ebm B Gb Db
Ed Sheeran “Perfect”, Jason Mraz “I’m Yours”
3. Timeless
I → IV → V → I
C: C F G C G: G C D G D: D G A D A: A D E A E: E A B E B: B E F# B F: F Bb C F Bb: Bb Eb F Bb Eb: Eb Ab Bb Eb Ab: Ab Db Eb Ab Db: Db Gb Ab Db Gb: Gb Cb Db Gb
Classic rock, blues, country – the backbone of everything
4. Satisfying
ii → V → I
C: Dm G C G: Am D G D: Em A D A: Bm E A E: F#m B E B: C#m F# B F: Gm C F Bb: Cm F Bb Eb: Fm Bb Eb Ab: Bbm Eb Ab Db: Ebm Ab Db Gb: Abm Db Gb
5. Nostalgic
I → vi → IV → V
C: C Am F G G: G Em C D D: D Bm G A A: A F#m D E E: E C#m A B B: B G#m E F# F: F Dm Bb C Bb: Bb Gm Eb F Eb: Eb Cm Ab Bb Ab: Ab Fm Db Eb Db: Db Bbm Gb Ab Gb: Gb Ebm Cb Db
Green Day “Good Riddance”, Toto “Africa”
6. Dramatic
vi → V → IV → III (minor)
Am: Am G F E Em: Em D C B Bm: Bm A G F# F#m: F#m E D C# C#m: C#m B A G# Gm: Gm F Eb D Dm: Dm C Bb A Cm: Cm Bb Ab G Fm: Fm Eb Db C Bbm: Bbm Ab Gb F
7. Swagger
I → bVII → IV → I
C: C Bb F C G: G F C G D: D C G D A: A G D A E: E D A E B: B A E B F: F Eb Bb F Bb: Bb Ab Eb Bb Eb: Eb Db Ab Eb Ab: Ab Gb Db Ab
8. Epic
i → bVI → bIII → bVII (minor)
Am: Am F C G Em: Em C G D Bm: Bm G D A F#m: F#m D A E Dm: Dm Bb F C Gm: Gm Eb Bb F Cm: Cm Ab Eb Bb Fm: Fm Db Ab Eb
Coldplay “Clocks”, Imagine Dragons, movie trailer music
9. Moody
i → VII → VI → VII (minor)
Am: Am G F G Em: Em D C D Bm: Bm A G A Dm: Dm C Bb C Gm: Gm F Eb F Cm: Cm Bb Ab Bb
10. Heartbreaking
I → III → IV → iv
C: C E F Fm G: G B C Cm D: D F# G Gm A: A C# D Dm E: E G# A Am F: F A Bb Bbm
Radiohead “Creep”, Beyoncé “Halo” bridge
11. Dreamy
IV → I → V → vi
C: F C G Am G: C G D Em D: G D A Bm A: D A E F#m E: A E B C#m F: Bb F C Dm
Norah Jones, Etta James “At Last” vibe
12. Romantic
I → vi → ii → V
C: C Am Dm G G: G Em Am D D: D Bm Em A A: A F#m Bm E E: E C#m F#m B F: F Dm Gm C
Every jazz standard and Bruno Mars love song
13. Dark
i → iv → v → i (minor)
Am: Am Dm Em Am Em: Em Am Bm Em Bm: Bm Em F#m Bm Dm: Dm Gm Am Dm Gm: Gm Cm Dm Gm Cm: Cm Fm Gm Cm
14. Soaring
I → bVI → bVII → I
C: C Ab Bb C G: G Eb F G D: D Bb C D A: A F G A E: E C D E F: F Db Eb F
15. Tender
ii → IV → I
C: Dm F C G: Am C G D: Em G D A: Bm D A E: F#m A E F: Gm Bb F
