Common chord progressions

You already must be knowing the major scale very well. In this lesson, you will be witnessing how the most common chord progressions are formed.For this lesson, I will be using the major scale. The chords in the major scale are major(I), minor(ii), minor(iii), major(IV), major(V), minor(vi), diminished(vii°). Actually any diatonic chord can move to any diatonic chord of the major scale but for a ready reference a chart has been provided from which you can form chord progressions at your own will with a guarantee that it will sound harmonious and synchronous. The chart provided shows the movement of one chord to another. Some chords have multiple arrows originating from them and hence show multiple options to move to different chords. This chart is not a strict chart but it will provide you a guaranteed path towards a good harmonious chord progression. Try starting from any chord and move with the guidance of the arrows and you will come up with a good chord progression. Give it a try.

So, let us make a chord progression in the G major scale. The chords belonging to the G major scale are G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em and Fdim. Let us start on the` ii chord and move to five following the arrow. Again follow the arrow and go to the I chord. Hence we obtain a ii-V-I chord progression which corresponds to Am-D-G in the G major scale. Try this one on your guitar and listen to it if it sounds good or not. Further try to make your own chord progressions and enjoy.