R&B Chord Progressions

44 R&B chord progressions. Pick one to see the chords by key, listen to it and download the MIDI.

• Neo Soul Progression

  Imaj7 – IIIm7 – VIm7 – IIm7 – V7

  Key of C: Cmaj7 – Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7

  Neo-soul classic used by D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and others. Sophisticated jazz-influenced progression.

• 90s R&B Progression

  IVmaj7 – V7 – IIIm7 – VIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G7 – Em7 – Am7

  Progression symbolizing the golden era of 90s R&B, used by TLC, Boyz II Men, and others.

• Lo-Fi Progression

  IVmaj7 – IIIm7 – VIm7 – IIm7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – Em7 – Am7 – Dm7

  Classic chill Lo-Fi Hip Hop progression. Creates a relaxed atmosphere.

• Funk Progression

  Im7 – IVm7 – Im7 – IVm7

  Key of C: Cm7 – Fm7 – Cm7 – Fm7

  Groove-oriented funk sound. Gets funky with consecutive minor sevenths.

• Gospel Progression

  I – IV – I – V – IV – I

  Key of C: C – F – C – G – F – C

  Moving and grand gospel sound. A powerful progression derived from church music.

• R&B Ballad Progression

  Imaj7 – VIm7 – IVmaj7 – V7

  Key of C: Cmaj7 – Am7 – Fmaj7 – G7

  Sentimental and beautiful R&B ballad. Slow and moving sound.

• Motown Progression

  I – VIm7 – IV – V7

  Key of C: C – Am7 – F – G7

  Classic Motown sound. The golden I-vi-IV-V progression.

• What's Going On (Marvin Gaye) Progression

  Imaj7 – IIm7 – Imaj7 – IIm7

  Key of C: Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Cmaj7 – Dm7

  Progression used in Marvin Gaye's classic. Smooth and soulful.

• Superstition (Stevie Wonder) Progression

  Im7 – ♭VII7 – Im7 – ♭VII7

  Key of C: Cm7 – Bb7 – Cm7 – Bb7

  Stevie Wonder's funk number. Groovy minor progression.

• Respect (Aretha Franklin) Progression

  I7 – IV7 – I7 – V7

  Key of C: C7 – F7 – C7 – G7

  Aretha Franklin's classic. Powerful soul sound.

• Stand by Me Progression

  I – VIm – IV – V

  Key of C: C – Am – F – G

  Ben E. King's classic. Simple and beautiful progression.

• If I Ain't Got You Verse

  Imaj7 – VIm7 – IIm7 – V7

  Key of C: Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7

  Alicia Keys. Classic I-VIm-IIm-V turnaround (1625).

• If I Ain't Got You Chorus

  IVmaj7 – IIIm7 – IIm7 – Imaj7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – Em7 – Dm7 – Cmaj7

  Alicia Keys. Descending IVmaj7-IIIm7-IIm7-Imaj7.

• Blinding Lights Progression

  IVm – Im – ♭III – ♭VII

  Key of C: Fm – Cm – Eb – Bb

  The Weeknd. Synthwave IVm-Im-♭III-♭VII.

• Erykah Badu Progression

  IIm7 – V7 – Imaj7 – IVmaj7

  Key of C: Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7

  Neo-soul standard. IIm7-V7-Imaj7-IVmaj7.

• D'Angelo Progression

  IIm7 – V7 – Imaj7 – VIm7

  Key of C: Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Am7

  Untitled style. IIm7-V7-Imaj7-VIm7.

• Peaches Progression

  VIm7 – IVmaj7 – Imaj7 – V7

  Key of C: Am7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – G7

  Justin Bieber. Chill VIm-IV-I-V progression.

• No Diggity Progression

  Im7 – IV7 – ♭VII7 – Im7

  Key of C: Cm7 – F7 – Bb7 – Cm7

  Blackstreet. G-Funk Im7-IV7-♭VII7.

• Crazy in Love Progression

  Im – Im – IV – IV

  Key of C: Cm – Cm – F – F

  Beyoncé. Powerful Im-Im-IV-IV.

• No Scrubs Progression

  VIm – IV – I – V

  Key of C: Am – F – C – G

  TLC. 90s R&B VIm-IV-I-V.

• Untitled Progression

  IVmaj7 – IIIm7 – VIm7 – V7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – Em7 – Am7 – G7

  D'Angelo. Neo-soul IVmaj7-IIIm7-VIm7-V7.

• Erykah Badu Extended Progression

  IIm9 – V9 – Imaj9 – Imaj9

  Key of C: Dm9 – G9 – Cmaj9 – Cmaj9

  Neo-soul classic extended IIm9-V9-Imaj9.

• Jill Scott Progression

  IIIm7 – VIm7 – IIm7 – V7

  Key of C: Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7

  Circle of fifths neo-soul IIIm7-VIm7-IIm7-V7.

• Robert Glasper Progression

  Im9 – IVmaj9 – ♭VIImaj7 – ♭IIImaj7

  Key of C: Cm9 – Fmaj9 – Bbmaj7 – Ebmaj7

  Modern Im9-IVmaj9-♭VIImaj7-♭IIImaj7.

• Frank Ocean Progression

  IVmaj7 – V7 – VIm7 – Imaj7

  Key of C: Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Cmaj7

  Progressive R&B IVmaj7-V7-VIm7-Imaj7.

• Gospel 2-5-1 Progression

  IIm7 – V7 – Imaj7 – Imaj7

  Key of C: Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7

  Ornamented gospel IIm7-V7-Imaj7.

• Gospel 1-6-2-5 Progression

  I – VIm – IIm – V

  Key of C: C – Am – Dm – G

  Turnaround I-VIm-IIm-V.

• Gospel 3-4-#4-5 Progression

  IIIm – IV – ♯IVdim – V

  Key of C: Em – F – Gbdim – G

  Chromatic ascent IIIm-IV-♯IVdim-V.

• Gospel Shout Progression

  I – IV – I – V

  Key of C: C – F – C – G

  Powerful worship I-IV-I-V.

• My Girl Progression

  I – IIm – IV – V

  Key of C: C – Dm – F – G

  The Temptations. Motown I-IIm-IV-V.

• Ain't No Mountain Progression

  I – IV – V – IV

  Key of C: C – F – G – F

  Marvin Gaye. Motown classic I-IV-V-IV.

• Superstition Funk Progression

  Im7 – Im7 – IV7 – Im7

  Key of C: Cm7 – Cm7 – F7 – Cm7

  Stevie Wonder. 2-chord funk Im7-IV7.

• Sir Duke Progression

  I – IIIm – VIm – IV

  Key of C: C – Em – Am – F

  Stevie Wonder. Brass I-IIIm-VIm-IV.

• Kiss from a Rose Progression

  ♭VI – ♭VII – I – ♭VI

  Key of C: Ab – Bb – C – Ab

  Seal. Dramatic ♭VI-♭VII-I-♭VI.

• Chameleon Progression

  Im7 – Im7 – IV7 – IV7

  Key of C: Cm7 – Cm7 – F7 – F7

  Herbie Hancock. 2-chord funk groove Im7-IV7.

• Low Rider Progression

  I – ♭VII – IV – I

  Key of C: C – Bb – F – C

  War. Chicano funk I-♭VII-IV.

• Flashlight Progression

  Im9 – Im9 – IV9 – Im9

  Key of C: Cm9 – Cm9 – F9 – Cm9

  Parliament. 2-chord P-funk Im9-IV9.

• D'Angelo Voodoo Progression

  IVmaj9 – IIIm9 – VIm9 – IIm9

  Key of C: Fmaj9 – Em9 – Am9 – Dm9

  IVmaj9-IIIm9-VIm9-IIm9. Voodoo album sound.

• Hiatus Kaiyote Progression

  Im9 – ♭VImaj9 – ♭IIImaj9 – ♭VII9

  Key of C: Cm9 – Abmaj9 – Ebmaj9 – Bb9

  Im9-♭VImaj9-♭IIImaj9-♭VII9. Modern neo-soul modal sound.

• Descending 9ths Progression

  Imaj9 – VIIm9♭5 – VIm9 – V9

  Key of C: Cmaj9 – Bm7b5 – Am9 – G9

  Imaj9-VIIm9-VIm9-Vm9. Stepwise descending 9th chords.

• Gospel Shouting Progression

  IV – ♯IVdim – V – I

  Key of C: F – Gbdim – G – C

  IV-♯IVdim-V-I. Gospel climax progression.

• Amen Cadence Progression

  I – IV – I – IV

  Key of C: C – F – C – F

  I-IV-I-IV-I. Hymn ending. Repeated plagal cadence.

• Uptight Progression

  I – IV – V – IV

  Key of C: C – F – G – F

  Stevie Wonder. Motown groove I-IV-V-IV.

• Robert Glasper II-V Progression

  IIm11 – V7alt – Imaj9 – ♭VImaj9

  Key of C: Dm11 – G7 – Cmaj9 – Abmaj9

  IIm11-V7alt-Imaj9-♭VImaj9. Modern jazz neo-soul.