Chord Progressions by Genre

The most-sampled hip-hop progression. Dorian mode gives it a jazzy darkness without being fully sad. Common in 90s boom bap.

Smooth minor movement. Works with soul piano samples. The VII gives forward motion without resolving.

Simple, loopable. Many classic beats run this indefinitely. Lets the drums and melody carry the song.

When flipping soul or funk records, you often get this major progression. Pitch it down for a melancholy effect.

The cornerstone of jazz harmony. Add 7ths and 9ths for that lo-fi warmth. Use close voicings for a vintage feel.

The most nostalgic progression in lo-fi. Borrowed from jazz standards. Works at slow tempos with Rhodes or warm piano.

Darker, more melancholy. Used in lo-fi tracks going for rainy, introspective moods.

Flowing minor movement. The bVIImaj7 chord is very characteristic of lo-fi. Great with dusty Rhodes samples.

The backbone of deep house. Two chords, infinite groove. Add chord stabs on the off-beats.

Uplifting gospel-influenced progressions appear in classic house (Larry Heard, Marshall Jefferson). Major keys, full chord pads.

Suspended 4th adds tension before resolving. Creates that floating, ethereal house feel.

Three-chord minor movement. Repetitive and hypnotic. Common in Afro house and amapiano-influenced tracks.

Simple, menacing. Many trap beats stay on one or two chords for the entire track. Simplicity is the point.

The diminished chord adds an unsettling tension common in dark trap. Used in minor key for that horror film feeling.

Chromatic bass movement over a static melody chord. Creates dread without changing chords.

The flat-two chord is deeply unsettling. Used in Phrygian mode-influenced trap for a Middle Eastern or Spanish sound.

The defining neo-soul sound. All chords extended to 9ths and 13ths. Rich and complex. Think D'Angelo, Erykah Badu.

Smooth minor movement. The major 7th on the bVI gives it that lush, emotional quality.

The bVII borrowed from Mixolydian adds a soulful, slightly surprising movement. Common in both R&B and funk.

The minor iv chord after the major IV creates an emotional pull. Very common in gospel-influenced R&B.

The most common chord progression in pop music. Used in hundreds of hit songs. Works in any key, any tempo.

The same four chords, starting on the vi. Sounds more emotional and introspective than starting on I.

The "Pachelbel Canon" progression extended. Used in power ballads and emotional pop choruses.

Another rotation of the big four. Starting on IV gives an uplifting, open feel before landing on I.

The foundation of all jazz harmony. Tension on the V7 resolves beautifully to the Imaj7. Learn this in all 12 keys.

The minor ii-V-i. The half-diminished ii and altered V create a distinctive jazz tension.

From "I Got Rhythm" by Gershwin. The most common jazz form next to the blues. Circle of fifths motion.

Jazz blues with dominant 7th chords on every degree. Substitution-friendly. 12-bar form.

The classic funk vamp. Dorian minor gives it a bright, funky quality. The IV7 chord is borrowed from major. Think James Brown.

All three chords with the flat 7 give a Mixolydian, Motown-influenced groove. Repetitive and hypnotic.

Many Stevie Wonder / funk tracks stay on a single minor 7th chord. All the complexity comes from the groove and rhythm.

The classic doo-wop/Motown progression. Major key, upbeat feel. Found in countless soul and R&B records.

What chord progressions are used in hip-hop?

Hip-hop commonly uses minor-based progressions like i-VII-VI-VII (Dorian vamp), i-iv-VII-III, and simple two-chord vamps like i-VII. Soul samples often bring I-IV-V progressions into beats. Minor pentatonic movement over static chords is common in boom bap.

What makes lo-fi chord progressions sound warm?

Lo-fi warmth comes from extended chords (7ths, 9ths) rather than simple triads, plus jazz-influenced movements like ii7-V7-Imaj7 and turnarounds with major 7th chords. Vintage piano voicings and slightly detuned MIDI instruments reinforce the aesthetic.

Can I use these progressions for sample-based music?

Yes. When you flip a sample, the chord progression in the original recording is part of the harmonic material you are working with. Knowing what progression it uses helps you choose a compatible key for your new melody and bass line, and decide whether to pitch the sample up or down.

How do I find the chord progression in a sample?

Upload the audio file to BeatKey Chord Finder at chords.beatkey.app. It analyzes the audio in your browser and returns the chord progression with timestamps. No account needed, works for any audio file including unreleased tracks and loops.