Common Progressions
Chord8 has 12 progression routes covering important patterns in Western music — from the ubiquitous I-V-vi-IV to the jazz ii-V-I and the blues turnaround.
Pop & Rock
I-V-vi-IV (Pop Anthem): The most common progression in modern music. "Let It Be," "No Woman No Cry," "Someone Like You," "With or Without You." The vi chord adds poignancy to what would otherwise be purely bright.
I-vi-IV-V (50s Doo-Wop): "Stand By Me," "Every Breath You Take." Same four chords as the Pop Anthem, just starting from a different point — sweet and nostalgic.
I-IV-V (Classic Rock): The simplest progression — just the three primary-function chords. "La Bamba," "Twist and Shout," "Wild Thing."
vi-IV-I-V (Sad Pop): Starting on vi makes the same four chords feel melancholic. "Numb" (Linkin Park).
Jazz & Classical
ii-V-I (Jazz): The fundamental jazz cadence. "Autumn Leaves," "Fly Me to the Moon." Smooth voice leading from ii to V to I makes this the building block of jazz harmony.
I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V (Pachelbel's Canon): An 8-chord cycle from 1680 that appears in "Basket Case" (Green Day) and "Don't Look Back in Anger" (Oasis).
Blues & Borrowed Chords
I-IV-I-V (Blues Turnaround): All chords typically played as dominant 7ths. The V in the last bar pulls back to the beginning.
I-III-IV-iv (Creep): The magic is IV to iv — the minor iv chord is borrowed from the parallel minor, and that one-note change creates an aching, bittersweet shift.
I-bIII-bVII-IV (Grunge): Borrows bIII and bVII from the parallel minor for a raw, heavy sound.
In Chord8
Chord8 has 12 dedicated progression routes with Roman numerals, descriptions, and examples. Open an individual route to study its pattern; there is no separate progression index.