10 Powerful Chord Progressions Every Songwriter Should Know

1,050,200
0
Published 2020-04-10
In this video you’ll learn 10 powerful chord progressions every songwriter should know.

Download the MIDI pack here: app.landr.com/projects/9b43a1b2-ca68-477e-a7aa-22a…

Discover the language of music with LANDR Premium Courses—learn essential music theory concepts, from scales and modes to key signatures and notation, and enhance your musical understanding: bit.ly/3IMGG5M

I’ll be playing all 10 chord progressions on the piano, and in Ableton Live along with some loops I’ve found. I’ll also be providing a downloadable MIDI pack so you can use them in your own productions.

LANDR Studio has everything you need to take a track from inspiration to release. Studio includes monthly Mastering and Samples credits, access to curated plugins, unlimited music distribution and collaboration tools.

Check out LANDR Studio here: bit.ly/3AMsAO2

Subscribe to LANDR on YouTube: bit.ly/2BcY9US

00:00 - Intro
00:43 - The Most Popular Progression
1:19 - Sad But Uplifting
1:54 - The Storyteller
2:54 - The Bass Players Progression
4:00 - Jazz It Up
4:33 - The Journey
5:10 - Secondary Dominants
6:00 - Epic Progression
6:44 - The Minor Change
7:35 - Trap Chords

I’ll be playing all of these chord progressions on the piano in the key of C major, so it’s easier to follow along with the video. During the video, I’ll show you a function in Ableton Live that will let you use any of these chord progression in any key.

Many of the chord progressions in this video are used in popular songs. After playing the chord progressions, I’ll be reviewing which of my favorite songs contain these chord progressions.

Take these progressions, and use them to build your own song. Grab some samples for a beat. Write some lyrics, and record some vocals. Here’s some helpful way to get started:

Grab some samples:
samples.landr.com/

Record your vocals at home:
bit.ly/2xX5ndO

Write lyrics:
bit.ly/2wm6kMA

------------------

Try LANDR now: bit.ly/2WppOwI
Subscribe to LANDR on YouTube: bit.ly/2BcY9US
Follow the LANDR blog to get the best tips, tools and tutorials for producers: blog.landr.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/landrmusic/
Twitter: twitter.com/LANDR_music

--------------------
#musiceducation
#chords
#chordprogressions
#chordtheory
#musicproduction
#musictheory
#songwriting
#landr
#pianolesson
#harmony
#music
#drums
#DAW
#musicmaking
#musiccreation

All Comments (21)
  • @LANDRmusic
    Which chord progression was your favourite?
  • 0:44 1.The Most Popular : I-V-vi-IV 1:20 2.Sad But Uplifting : vi-V-IV-V 1:55 3.The Storyteller : I-IV-vi-V 2:56 4.The Bass Player : I-ii7-I6-IV 4:01 5.Jazz It Up : I-vi-ii-V 4:34 6.The Journey : IV-I6-V 5:12 7.Secondary Dominants : IV-V-V6/vi-vi 6:02 8.Epic Progression : I-bVI-V 6:44 9.The Minor Change : IV-iv-I 7:36 10.Trap Chords : i-VI-i-v
  • @harryew
    I think that's the first piano lesson I've had from someone who changes the pitch of their piano halfway through
  • @haylinicole7358
    I'm an aspiring music artist who's just getting into music production and this was actually a really helpful video! Finding the right chords for a melody can sometimes be tricky, especially if in your head, you hear a different flavor of chord for a certain note, but you have no idea how to actually replicate it on an instrument. Building off one of these might help.
  • @midori58
    III(major 3) is very dramatic, vi(minor 4) is bittersweet, v(minor 5) tones down the bright major chord, bVI(flat 6) and bVII(flat 7) transports you to a new dimension. That's really all you need to know
  • @sm5574
    I understand the theory behind calling a first-inversion a "6" chord, but I think a lot of musicians will interpret that phrase as meaning to add a 6 (in this case, A) to the triad.
  • No comments acknowledging the host’s delightful sense of humor that makes these videos stand out from the fray of dry, nerdy tutorial videos. Thank you, Peggy.
  • @drummerdemon69
    did anyone else bug out when when she played "CMaj" and forgot to put the pitch back in the DAW? Hearing Eb but seeing C is seriously bugging me out.
  • @dnny9441
    Nothing like learning chord progressions from John Wick.
  • @mintcream7017
    ‘Resolves to the V giving a sense of closure’ ...what
  • @Blondesax
    I have to admit: this video was a lot less generic than I thought it was going to be. Easy stuff to start with.
  • "This is a very happy sounding progression" Proceeds to give a Radiohead song as an example
  • @ConceptJunkie
    I'm glad there was a III chord in there somewhere. Peggy, you shouldn't be afraid to introduce the term "inversion" to your audience. I get that this is geared towards beginners, and as such it's a fine video, but introducing the real terminology is a great teaching moment, because the next time a person hears "inversion", he or she realizes that it's a simple concept, and already knows what it is.
  • @raphaelfp
    I love the minor change too. It takes me back immediately to Humpty Dumpty Love Song by Travis, using it as a moody closure to the verse chords. Beautiful
  • @kylesnavely6165
    I feel compelled to mention again that this is the greatest video uploaded to YouTube ever and THANK YOU
  • @pianomusic3026
    These chord progressions are a must know for all songwriters, Great video!!
  • @Johnniew
    I love the chord progession I -vi7-iv7-V7-VII as used by The Beach Boys in "Keep an eye on Summer". John Lennon/Beatles also use this in "Free as a bird". Hauntingly beautiful.