5 Common Chord Progressions

5 Common Chord Progressions for Beginners

As we're closing Module 10, we're slowly working towards being songwriters, not just guitar players! How awesome does that sound? :) As you progress in Grade 2, you learn the musical elements that make up songs and understand the concepts and guidelines of those musical elements. 

In this lesson, you'll learn 5 common chord progressions you'll probably be able to recognize in popular songs! It'll be a good Ear Training exercise, and these chord progressions are awesome for future songwriting!

 

Chord Progression Using The Key Of C

Chord progressions are a series of chords that sound great together from the same key. Since music has evolved - certain chord progressions sound particularly good! They are a helpful starting point in songwriting and improvising! 

These 5 common chord progressions will be in the key of C... again! :) Here are the individual chords in this progression:

C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am

 

These chord progressions work in numbers. Assigning a number to each chord in the sequence will let you use the same pattern in various keys. Then, you'll reassign each number to a chord in whichever key you're playing in. 

In the key of C, it looks like this:

• 1 = C
• 2 = Dm
• 3 = Em
• 4 = F
• 5 = G
• 6 = Am
• 7 would be Bdim, but don't worry about this one for now!

 

5 Common Chord Progressions

Learning these 5 common chord progressions will help you recognize the movement of the chords and which ones work well together! :) Paying attention to patterns in chord progressions is a great way to get into songwriting or music appreciation! Here they are:

• 1-5-6-4
  • C, G, Am, F
     
• 6-4-1-5
  • Am, F, C, G
     
• 1-4-5-4
  • C, F, G, F
     
• 1-6-4-5
  • C, Am, F, G
     
• 2-5-1-6
  • Dm, G, C, Am

 

Have Fun & Explore

Now - it's your turn to explore these progressions and see how they sound to you! Experiment by playing them slow and fast. Explore how you can use them on your guitar!

 

💬 Can you recognize a song in any of them? Join the discussion and let me know! :)

 

If you can - practice these different chord progressions with a real human! Have your jam buddy play a particular one - and play the other! It'll be memorable this way - and loads of fun to do! :) 

 

👉 Next, we'll explore new songs to practice for Module 10!