Chord Progression Generator

Generate chord progressions in any key and mode for songwriting, production, and music theory study. Choose from common progressions like I–V–vi–IV, pick genre presets, or generate random diatonic progressions. Hear them played back, view guitar and piano voicings, toggle Nashville numbers, and copy or export your progression — all in your browser.

Key

Mode

Genre Preset

Common Progressions

4 chords 8 chords

Current Progression

Select a progression above or generate a random one

Tempo: 120 BPM

Time Sig

Guitar Voicings

Piano Voicings

Nashville Number Display

How to Use the Chord Progression Generator

Choose a Key and Mode

Select a root key (C through B) and a mode (Major, Natural Minor, Dorian, Mixolydian, Phrygian, or Lydian). The tool automatically calculates the correct diatonic chords for your selection — major, minor, and diminished chords in the right positions.
Pick a Progression or Generate One

Click any of the 10 common progressions to instantly load it, or use the Genre Preset dropdown to filter progressions by style. Click Random Progression to generate a 4- or 8-chord diatonic progression with weighted probabilities for musically satisfying results.
Listen and Visualize

Press Play to hear the progression with piano-like tones at your chosen tempo (60–200 BPM) and time signature (3/4 or 4/4). Each chord highlights as it plays. Below, view guitar chord diagrams and piano voicings for every chord in the progression.
Export and Share

Toggle Nashville Numbers to see the progression as scale degrees. Click Copy Progression to copy chord names to your clipboard, or Export MIDI Text to get a text-format output with chord names and timing information — ready for your DAW or notation software.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chord progression?

A chord progression is a sequence of chords played in order, forming the harmonic foundation of a song. Progressions are often described using Roman numerals (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°) that represent each chord’s position in the key. For example, I–V–vi–IV in the key of C major means C–G–Am–F.

What are the most common chord progressions in pop music?

The most widely used pop progression is I–V–vi–IV (e.g., C–G–Am–F), featured in hundreds of hit songs. Other popular progressions include vi–IV–I–V (same chords, different starting point), I–vi–IV–V (the 50s progression), and I–IV–V–I (the classic resolution). This tool includes all of these plus genre-specific variants.

What is the difference between major and minor modes?

Major modes use the standard major scale intervals, producing bright, happy chord qualities. Natural Minor flattens the 3rd, 6th, and 7th scale degrees, creating darker, more melancholic progressions. Dorian is a minor mode with a raised 6th (jazzy feel). Mixolydian is major with a flat 7th (blues/rock feel). Phrygian is minor with a flat 2nd (Spanish/metal). Lydian is major with a raised 4th (dreamy, floating quality).

What are Nashville numbers?

The Nashville Number System replaces chord names with scale degree numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.), making it easy to transpose songs to any key without rewriting. A “1” is always the tonic, “4” the subdominant, and “5” the dominant, regardless of key. Minor chords are indicated with a dash (e.g., “2-” for the minor ii chord). This system is standard in Nashville studio sessions.

Can I hear the chord progression played back?

Yes! Click the Play button to hear each chord in sequence using piano-like tones generated with the Web Audio API. Adjust the tempo (60–200 BPM) and time signature (3/4 or 4/4) to control playback speed and feel. Each chord card highlights in green as it plays, so you can follow along visually.

Is any data uploaded or stored?

No. All chord calculation, audio generation, and visualization happens 100% locally in your browser using the Web Audio API and Canvas. No data is sent to any server. The tool works completely offline once loaded.

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