Rock Chord Progressions

53 Rock chord progressions. Pick one to see the chords by key, listen to it and download the MIDI.

• Hotel California Progression

  Im – V7 – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – IVm – V7

  Key of C: Cm – G7 – Bb – F – Ab – Eb – Fm – G7

  Minor key Andalusian cadence famous from the Eagles classic. Flamenco-like and passionate.

• Wonderwall (Oasis) Progression

  IIIm7 – V – II – VI

  Key of C: Em7 – G – D – A

  Progression used in Oasis's signature song. Simple yet powerful Em-G-D-A sound.

• Basket Case (Green Day) Progression

  I – V – VIm – IV

  Key of C: C – G – Am – F

  Green Day's 'Basket Case'. A punk rock version of the canon progression.

• Nirvana Progression

  I – ♭III – ♭VI – ♭VII

  Key of C: C – Eb – Ab – Bb

  Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. The definitive grunge rock progression.

• Rolling in the Deep (Adele) Progression

  Im – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII

  Key of C: Cm – Bb – Ab – Bb

  Adele's powerful ballad. A moving minor key progression.

• Sweet Child O' Mine Progression

  I – ♭VII – IV – I

  Key of C: C – Bb – F – C

  Guns N' Roses classic. Famous for its distinctive arpeggio pattern.

• Creep (Radiohead) Progression

  I – III – IV – IVm

  Key of C: C – E – F – Fm

  Famous from Radiohead's 'Creep'. Sentimental and unique sound.

• Hey Joe Progression

  I – IV – ♭VII – III

  Key of C: C – F – Bb – E

  Famous progression by Jimi Hendrix. Cyclic chords descending the circle of fifths.

• Nothing Else Matters Progression

  IIIm – II – I – V

  Key of C: Em – D – C – G

  Metallica's ballad. Beautiful Em-D-C-G progression.

• Bohemian Rhapsody (Ballad Section)

  I – VIm – VIIdim – IIIm – IV

  Key of C: C – Am – Bdim – Em – F

  Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' ballad section. Complex and beautiful.

• Numb Progression

  VIm – IV – I – V

  Key of C: Am – F – C – G

  Modern progression used in Linkin Park's Numb, Eminem's Love The Way You Lie, and more.

• Sad Rock Progression

  VIm – V – IV – V

  Key of C: Am – G – F – G

  A melancholic rock ballad progression. Perfect for emotional songs.

• Epic Rock Progression

  ♭VI – ♭VII – I

  Key of C: Ab – Bb – C

  Grand and powerful rock sound. Heroic bVI-bVII-I movement.

• Sweet Home Alabama Progression

  I – ♭VII – IV

  Key of C: C – Bb – F

  Southern Rock classic. I-bVII-IV progression famous from Sweet Home Alabama.

• Rock Anthem

  I – V – IV – V

  Key of C: C – G – F – G

  Exciting stadium rock progression. Powerful I-V-IV-V pattern.

• Emo Rock Progression

  VIm – IV – VIm – V

  Key of C: Am – F – Am – G

  Emotional emo/post-hardcore progression.

• Simple Rock

  I – IV – I – V

  Key of C: C – F – C – G

  Straight rock and roll. Simple powerful I-IV-I-V pattern.

• Indie Rock Progression

  IIm – IV – I – V

  Key of C: Dm – F – C – G

  Sophisticated indie rock/alternative progression.

• Soft Rock

  I – IV – IIm – V

  Key of C: C – F – Dm – G

  70s-style soft rock. Gentle and pleasant sound.

• Alternative Pop

  ♭VI – IV – I – V

  Key of C: Ab – F – C – G

  Alternative sound with a unique twist. bVI-IV-I-V pattern.

• Metal Rock

  I – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII

  Key of C: C – Bb – Ab – Bb

  Heavy metal progression. I-bVII-bVI-bVII pattern.

• Dramatic Rock

  VIm – ♭VI – ♭VII – I

  Key of C: Am – Ab – Bb – C

  Dramatic rock progression. vi-bVI-bVII-I movement.

• Mixolydian Rock

  ♭VII – IV – I

  Key of C: Bb – F – C

  Mixolydian mode rock. bVII-IV-I pattern.

• Stairway to Heaven Progression

  VIm – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII

  Key of C: Am – Ab – Eb – Bb

  Led Zeppelin. Descending VIm-♭VI-♭III-♭VII.

• Iron Man Progression

  Im – ♭III – ♭VI – ♭VII

  Key of C: Cm – Eb – Ab – Bb

  Black Sabbath. Heavy Im-♭III-♭VI-♭VII riff.

• Enter Sandman Progression

  Im – ♭II – Im – Im

  Key of C: Cm – Db – Cm – Cm

  Metallica. Phrygian Im-♭II-Im progression.

• Teen Spirit Progression

  I – IV – ♭III – ♭VI

  Key of C: C – F – Eb – Ab

  Nirvana. Grunge I-IV-♭III-♭VI.

• Hotel California Intro Progression

  Im – V – ♭VII – IV

  Key of C: Cm – G – Bb – F

  Eagles. Iconic intro Im-V-♭VII-IV.

• Smoke on the Water Progression

  Im – ♭III – IV – Im

  Key of C: Cm – Eb – F – Cm

  Deep Purple. Classic riff Im-♭III-IV.

• Purple Haze Progression

  I – ♭III – IV – I

  Key of C: C – Eb – F – C

  Jimi Hendrix. Psychedelic I-♭III-IV.

• Free Bird Progression

  I – IV – V – IV

  Key of C: C – F – G – F

  Lynyrd Skynyrd. Southern rock I-IV-V.

• Wish You Were Here Progression

  I – IV – VIm – I

  Key of C: C – F – Am – C

  Pink Floyd. Prog rock I-IV-VIm.

• Comfortably Numb Progression

  Im – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII

  Key of C: Cm – Ab – Eb – Bb

  Pink Floyd. Dramatic Im-♭VI.

• Stairway to Heaven Progression

  VIm – V – IV – IV

  Key of C: Am – G – F – F

  Led Zeppelin. Minor drop VIm-V-IV-IV.

• Kashmir Progression

  Im – ♭VII – IV – Im

  Key of C: Cm – Bb – F – Cm

  Led Zeppelin. Oriental Im-♭VII-IV.

• While My Guitar Weeps Progression

  VIm – V – IV – III

  Key of C: Am – G – F – E

  Beatles. Minor descent VIm-V-IV-III.

• Paranoid Progression

  Im – ♭VII – Im – V

  Key of C: Cm – Bb – Cm – G

  Black Sabbath. Heavy metal Im-♭VII-Im.

• Iron Man Progression

  Im – ♭III – ♭VII – Im

  Key of C: Cm – Eb – Bb – Cm

  Black Sabbath. Doom Im-♭III-♭VII-Im.

• Come As You Are Progression

  Im – Im – IV – Im

  Key of C: Cm – Cm – F – Cm

  Nirvana. Dorian 2-chord Im-Im.

• Breathe Progression

  Im – IV7 – Im – IV7

  Key of C: Cm – F7 – Cm – F7

  Pink Floyd. Dorian 2-chord Im-IV.

• Money Progression

  Im7 – Im7 – ♭VIImaj7 – Im7

  Key of C: Cm7 – Cm7 – Bbmaj7 – Cm7

  Pink Floyd. 7/4 time Im7-♭VIImaj7.

• Baba O'Riley Progression

  I – V – IV – I

  Key of C: C – G – F – C

  The Who. Synth rock I-V-IV-I.

• Under Pressure Progression

  I – V – ♭VII – IV

  Key of C: C – G – Bb – F

  Queen & Bowie. Iconic I-V-♭VII-IV.

• Roundabout Progression

  Im – ♭VII – ♭VI – V

  Key of C: Cm – Bb – Ab – G

  Yes. Prog rock classic Im-♭VII-♭VI-V.

• Cinema Show Progression

  I – IIm – ♭VII – IV

  Key of C: C – Dm – Bb – F

  Genesis. Prog epic I-IIm-♭VII-IV.

• Minor Line Cliché

  Im – Im(maj7) – Im7 – Im6

  Key of C: Cm – Cm7 – Cm7 – Cm

  Im-Im(maj7)-Im7-Im6. Chromatic descending line cliché. Used in Stairway.

• Lament Bass Progression

  Im – ♭VII – ♭VI – V

  Key of C: Cm – Bb – Ab – G

  Im-♭VII-♭VI-V. Used in Hit the Road Jack.

• Dorian Jam Progression

  Im7 – Im7 – IV7 – IV7

  Key of C: Cm7 – Cm7 – F7 – F7

  Im-IV. Dorian funk from Evil Ways (Santana).

• Mixolydian Vamp

  I – ♭VII – IV – I

  Key of C: C – Bb – F – C

  I-♭VII-IV-I. Southern rock from Sweet Home Alabama.

• Phrygian Metal Progression

  Im – ♭II – Im – ♭VII

  Key of C: Cm – Db – Cm – Bb

  Im-♭II-Im-♭VII. Metal Phrygian riff.

• Lydian Dreamy Progression

  I – II – I – II

  Key of C: C – D – C – D

  I-II-I-II. Floating Lydian feel. Cinematic.

• King Crimson Progression

  Im – ♭IImaj7 – ♭VIImaj7 – ♭IIImaj7

  Key of C: Cm – Dbmaj7 – Bbmaj7 – Ebmaj7

  Im-♭IImaj7-♭VIImaj7-♭IIImaj7. Dark 21st Century sound.

• Half Step Descending Progression

  I – VIIdim – ♭VII – VIm

  Key of C: C – Bdim – Bb – Am

  I-VII-♭VII-VI. Beatles-style chromatic descent.