J-POP Chord Progressions

67 J-POP chord progressions. Pick one to see the chords by key, listen to it and download the MIDI.

• Royal Road Progression

  IV – V – IIIm – VIm

  Key of C: F – G – Em – Am

  The most commonly used progression in Japanese pop music. Creates a bittersweet and moving atmosphere.

• Komuro Progression

  VIm – IV – V – I

  Key of C: Am – F – G – C

  The signature progression of Tetsuya Komuro, representing 90s J-POP. Features a powerful, driving sound.

• Just The Two Of Us Progression

  IVmaj7 – III7 – VIm7 – I7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – E7 – Am7 – C7

  A sophisticated urban jazz-influenced progression made famous by the classic song.

• Ame-nochi Progression

  VIm – IV – I – V

  Key of C: Am – F – C – G

  A progression with a gentle, warm sound. Characterized by the VIm-IV-I-V flow.

• Subdominant Progression

  I – IV – VIm – IV

  Key of C: C – F – Am – F

  A calm and stable progression. A cycle centered around the subdominant.

• Shibuya-kei Progression

  Imaj7 – VIm7 – IIm7 – V7

  Key of C: Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7

  Stylish and upbeat Shibuya-kei sound. A progression that colored the 90s pop scene.

• Anime Song Progression

  I – V – VIm – IV – V

  Key of C: C – G – Am – F – G

  Classic anime song progression with powerful build-up. Often used in choruses.

• Sad Minor Progression

  VIm – IVmaj7 – V – IIIm

  Key of C: Am – Fmaj7 – G – Em

  A sentimental and bittersweet minor key progression. Perfect for ballads.

• Hopeful Progression

  I – IVmaj7 – V – VIm7 – IV

  Key of C: C – Fmaj7 – G – Am7 – F

  A bright and hopeful progression. Perfect for cheer songs and ending themes.

• Spring Progression

  I – IIIm – IVmaj7 – V

  Key of C: C – Em – Fmaj7 – G

  A bright and refreshing progression that evokes spring. Perfect for cherry blossom songs.

• Dramatic J-POP Progression

  VIm – IIm – V – I – IV

  Key of C: Am – Dm – G – C – F

  Dramatic and exciting progression. Perfect for chorus development.

• Twilight Progression

  IVmaj7 – V – IIIm7 – VIm – IIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G – Em7 – Am – Dm7

  A progression that creates a bittersweet twilight atmosphere.

• YOASOBI-style Progression

  VIm7 – IVmaj7 – I – V7 – IIIm7

  Key of C: Am7 – Fmaj7 – C – G7 – Em7

  Modern J-POP sound. Sophisticated chord usage.

• Youth Progression

  I – VIm – IIm – V – IV

  Key of C: C – Am – Dm – G – F

  A progression expressing the brightness and bittersweetness of youth. Perfect for school drama themes.

• Sheena Ringo Style

  IVmaj7 – V7 – IIIm7 – VIm7 – IIm7 – IIIm7 – IV – V

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G7 – Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – Em7 – F – G

  Complex Sheena Ringo-style progression with unique harmonic sense.

• Official HIGE DANdism Style

  IV – V – VIm – I

  Key of C: F – G – Am – C

  Sophisticated progression seen in Official HIGE DANdism's songs.

• Kenshi Yonezu Style

  IVmaj7 – Vm7 – VIm7 – IIIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – Em7

  Urban and modern progression characteristic of Kenshi Yonezu's songs.

• Vocaloid Style

  VIm – V – IV – IIIm – IIm – V

  Key of C: Am – G – F – Em – Dm – G

  Fast-paced progression commonly found in Vocaloid songs.

• Royal Road Variant

  IV – IVm – I – V

  Key of C: F – Fm – C – G

  Variant of Royal Road progression with added minor subdominant.

• 6-Chord Cycle

  VIm – IIIm – IV – I – IIm – V

  Key of C: Am – Em – F – C – Dm – G

  Varied 6-chord cyclic progression.

• Emo Ballad

  I – V/VII – VIm – IVmaj7

  Key of C: C – G – Am – Fmaj7

  Progression for emotional ballads.

• Descending Progression

  IVmaj7 – IIIm7 – IIm7 – Imaj7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – Em7 – Dm7 – Cmaj7

  Beautiful smoothly descending progression.

• J-POP Chromatic

  VIm7 – Vm7 – IVmaj7 – ♭VImaj7

  Key of C: Am7 – Gm7 – Fmaj7 – Abmaj7

  Modern J-POP progression with chromatic movement.

• Youth Variant

  I – IIIm – VIm – IV

  Key of C: C – Em – Am – F

  Alternative youth song pattern. I-IIIm-VIm-IV.

• J-POP Loop

  IV – V – IIIm – IV

  Key of C: F – G – Em – F

  Pleasant loop progression with comfortable repetition.

• Melancholic 2

  VIm – V – IVmaj7 – V

  Key of C: Am – G – Fmaj7 – G

  Another bittersweet progression pattern.

• Sparkling Progression

  I – V – VIm – IVmaj7

  Key of C: C – G – Am – Fmaj7

  Sparkling and bright pop progression.

• Stylish J-POP

  IVmaj7 – IVm7 – IIIm7 – VI7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – Fm7 – Em7 – A7

  Stylish and urban J-POP progression.

• Dark J-POP

  VIm – ♭VI – IV – V

  Key of C: Am – Ab – F – G

  Dark and mysterious J-POP progression.

• Beatles-style J-POP

  I – Iaug – I6 – I7

  Key of C: C – Caug – C6 – C7

  Beatles-style progression applied to J-POP. I-Iaug-I6-I7.

• Emotional Progression

  IV – IVm – I – IIIm7 – VIm

  Key of C: F – Fm – C – Em7 – Am

  Progression perfect for emotional scenes.

• Loop Progression 2

  VIm – V – IV – V – VIm

  Key of C: Am – G – F – G – Am

  Alternative loop progression pattern. VIm-V-IV-V-VIm.

• Refined J-POP

  IVmaj7 – V/IV – IIIm7 – VIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G – Em7 – Am7

  Refined modern J-POP progression.

• Lydian-style J-POP

  I – II7 – IVmaj7 – IIIm7

  Key of C: C – D7 – Fmaj7 – Em7

  Bright J-POP incorporating Lydian mode.

• Cruel Angel's Thesis Progression

  Im – IVm – ♭VII – ♭III

  Key of C: Cm – Fm – Bb – Eb

  Evangelion OP. Circle of fourths: Im-IVm-♭VII-♭III.

• Gurenge Progression (456)

  IV – V – VIm – IIIm

  Key of C: F – G – Am – Em

  Demon Slayer OP. Standard IV-V-VIm-IIIm progression.

• Mixed Nuts Progression

  IVmaj7 – V7 – IIIm7 – VIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G7 – Em7 – Am7

  SPY×FAMILY OP. Standard IV-V-IIIm-VIm progression.

• Attack on Titan Progression

  Im – ♭VI – ♭VII – V

  Key of C: Cm – Ab – Bb – G

  Guren no Yumiya. Dramatic Im-♭VI-♭VII-V progression.

• Senbonzakura Progression

  Im – ♭VI – ♭VII – ♭III

  Key of C: Cm – Ab – Bb – Eb

  KurousaP. Minor Komuro: Im-♭VI-♭VII-♭III.

• Melt Progression

  I – V – VIm – IV

  Key of C: C – G – Am – F

  supercell. Standard I-V-VIm-IV progression.

• Lemon Progression

  IV – I – V – VIm

  Key of C: F – C – G – Am

  Kenshi Yonezu. IV-I-V-VIm (4156) progression.

• Hakujitsu Progression (Chorus)

  VIm7 – IV – V – I

  Key of C: Am7 – F – G – C

  King Gnu. Komuro-style VIm7-IV-V-I (6451) progression.

• Idol Progression (Chorus)

  ♭VI – Vm – Im – Im

  Key of C: Ab – Gm – Cm – Cm

  YOASOBI. Minor ♭VI-Vm-Im progression.

• Usseewa Progression

  Im – ♭VII – ♭VI – V

  Key of C: Cm – Bb – Ab – G

  Ado. Minor Im-♭VII-♭VI-V progression.

• Bling-Bang-Bang-Born Progression

  VIm – V – IV – I

  Key of C: Am – G – F – C

  Creepy Nuts. VIm-V-IV-I (6541) progression.

• NIGHT DANCER Progression

  IVmaj7 – III7 – VIm7 – IIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – E7 – Am7 – Dm7

  imase. Modified JTTOU IVmaj7-III7-VIm7-IIm7.

• Fujii Kaze Progression

  IIm7 – V7 – Imaj7 – IVmaj7

  Key of C: Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7

  Jazz-influenced IIm7-V7-Imaj7-IVmaj7.

• Odo Progression

  IVmaj7 – III7 – VIm7 – VIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – E7 – Am7 – Am7

  Ado. Marusa-style IVmaj7-III7-VIm7 progression.

• Shinigami Progression

  VIm – V – IV – IIIm

  Key of C: Am – G – F – Em

  Kenshi Yonezu. Descending VIm-V-IV-IIIm.

• Shinjidai Progression

  I – V – VIm – IIIm

  Key of C: C – G – Am – Em

  Ado. One Piece Film RED I-V-VIm-IIIm.

• Kataomoi Progression

  IVmaj7 – V – VIm7 – I

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G – Am7 – C

  Aimer. Emotional IVmaj7-V-VIm7.

• Senko Progression

  Im – ♭III – ♭VI – ♭VII

  Key of C: Cm – Eb – Ab – Bb

  [Alexandros]. Gundam UC Im-♭III-♭VI-♭VII.

• Natsuiro Progression

  I – VIm – IV – V

  Key of C: C – Am – F – G

  Yuzu. Summer classic I-VIm-IV-V.

• Harunohi Progression

  I – IIIm – IV – V

  Key of C: C – Em – F – G

  Aimyon. Gentle pop I-IIIm-IV-V.

• Tentaikansoku Progression

  I – VIm – V – IV

  Key of C: C – Am – G – F

  BUMP OF CHICKEN. Classic I-VIm-V-IV.

• Unravel Progression

  Im – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII

  Key of C: Cm – Ab – Eb – Bb

  TK. Tokyo Ghoul Im-♭VI-♭III-♭VII.

• Brave Shine Progression

  VIm – V – IV – V

  Key of C: Am – G – F – G

  Aimer. Fate VIm-V-IV-V.

• God Knows Progression

  I – IV – VIm – V

  Key of C: C – F – Am – G

  Haruhi. I-IV-VIm-V progression.

• Disappearance Progression

  Im – V – ♭VII – IV

  Key of C: Cm – G – Bb – F

  cosMo. High-speed Im-V-♭VII-IV.

• Mayonaka no Door Progression

  IVmaj7 – IIIm7 – VIm7 – V7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – Em7 – Am7 – G7

  Miki Matsubara. Classic city pop progression.

• September Progression

  Imaj7 – IIm7 – IIIm7 – IVmaj7

  Key of C: Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7

  Mariya Takeuchi. Smooth Imaj7-IIm7-IIIm7-IVmaj7.

• Magic Ways Progression

  IVmaj7 – V – IIIm7 – VIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G – Em7 – Am7

  Tatsuro Yamashita. Magic IVmaj7-V-IIIm7-VIm7.

• Chrono Trigger Yearnings Progression

  I – IV – V – VIm

  Key of C: C – F – G – Am

  Yasunori Mitsuda. RPG emotional I-IV-V-VIm.

• Odoru Ponpokorin Progression

  I – IV – V – I

  Key of C: C – F – G – C

  BB Queens. Chibi Maruko I-IV-V-I.

• Stereotypical Anime Progression

  IV – V – VIm – VIm

  Key of C: F – G – Am – Am

  Stereotypical anime pattern IV-V-VIm.

• SPY×FAMILY Progression

  IVmaj7 – V – IIIm7 – VIm

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G – Em7 – Am

  Mixed Nuts/Official HIGE DANdism. Stylish IVmaj7-V-IIIm7-VIm.

• Dramaturgy Progression

  Im – IV – V – ♭VII

  Key of C: Cm – F – G – Bb

  Eve. Mysterious Im-IV-V-♭VII.