There are only so many notes in music (twelve to be exact). And even fewer notes in the average scale (usually seven or less for mainstream music).

As a result, certain progressions of chords get used…a lot. But thankfully, many of those progressions are so iconic that their use can help your song more than hurt it.

In this quick guide, I have outlined the most popular chord progressions in mainstream Western music (pop, rock, rap, folk, indie, you name it). Use these tables as a tool for A/B testing progressions for a song you’re working on.

What Are Chord Numerals in Music?

Just a quick disclaimer before we start: you’ll need to understand Chord Numerals in order to maximize the potential of this guide.

In music, we use Roman Numerals to signify which chord is which in a progression regardless of the key you are in. All music keys have seven notes, so there are seven scale degrees; each of those scale degrees are represented by a numeral (I, II, II, IV, and so on). You figure out what chord it’s referring to by counting out the notes in the scale.

Here are a few quick notes on how to read these numerals properly:

• The tonic of your key is numeral one (I)
• You only count notes in the key when counting scale degrees
• If a numeral is uppercase (like IV) that means it’s a major chord
• If a numeral is lowercase (like vi) that means it’s a minor chord
• When you see a “^o” at the end of a numeral, that means it’s a diminished chord

Roman Numerals Chord Chart

In each chord progression chart you find in this article, I have provided what the progression’s numerals convert to in the Key of C for easy reference. But I have also constructed a chart that shows what those numerals convert to in each key for ease of use:

The Most Common Chord Progressions

Four Chords

Also known as “the Pop-Punk chord progression” even those it’s used in literally every genre you can think of.

The Lillith Fair Progression

This is essentially just the “four chords” progression but in the relative minor key. It was commonly used by female singer-songwriters who were frontrunning the Lillith Fair alternative pop/rock scene of the 1990s. Hence the name.

The Rose-Colored Chords

This progression lacks any minor chords and tends to sound upbeat (though poignancy can definitely be added through a relative minor melody or verse progression, etc).

The Photo Album Chords

The Goodbye Progression

I’ve named this progression as such because a lot of songs using it are about somebody leaving or the singer missing someone.

The Bette Davis Chords

You should know where the name comes from. If you don’t, where have you been?

The 50s Progression

A progression codified in popularity by many singles from 1950s America.

The Homebound Progression

The Rites-of-Passage Progression

The Last Call Chords

Perhaps this progression was most exemplified in a certain 1998 single about leaving the bar…

The Circular Chords

Thus named because the progression easily leads you back to the first chord.

The Bedroom Pop Progression

While not a new progression of chords, it has proved successful for a variety of bedroom pop and alternative artists in recent years.

Conclusion

This list should not be considered exhaustive. These are merely the most likely chord series that you will find in mainstream music.

If you’re a songwriter looking to improve your craft, then allow me to recommend some other guides to read:

• Do All Songs Need Harmony?
• What Note Do You Start A Melody On?
• What Do Songs Need Other Than Melody?
• What Key Should I Sing/Write My Song In?