A big part of songwriting is creating interesting guitar chord progressions. Guitar teacher Heather L. shares her secrets to finding chords that sound good together…
Do you ever find yourself stuck in a rut when it comes to writing guitar chord progressions? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone! In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks for creating unique and catchy chord progressions. So let’s get started!
What Are Some Good Chord Progressions on Guitar?
When it comes to guitar playing, there are endless possibilities for chord progressions. However, some progressions are more commonly used than others. For example:
- The I-IV-V progression is one of the most popular progressions in all of Western music. This progression consists of the chords I, IV, and V, which are typically played in the key of C Major.
- The I-IV-V progression can be used in a wide variety of genres, from country to rock to pop.
- Another popular chord progression is the ii-V-I progression. This progression consists of the chords ii, V, and I, and it is often used in Jazz compositions.
No matter what genre you’re playing, there’s bound to be a chord progression that’s perfect for your song. Sign up for guitar lessons to learn all the guitar chord progressions you need to know and check out the video below for even more tips and tricks when learning guitar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwPswoolmz0
Tips for Creating Chord Progressions Guitar Players Should Know
Writing unique and catchy guitar chord progressions is one of the keys to creating unique and catchy songs. But so often, it seems like such a mystery, especially when you consider the fact that there are only so many possible combinations. In fact, thousands of doo wop tunes of the 1950’s and 1960’s were driven by a single progression, notated like this:
I, vi, IV, V, I (one, six, four, five, and one)
See, every chord of a chord progression is named after the number that its root corresponds to in the key you’re playing in. The root of a chord is kind of like its home base. In other words, a “one” chord, traditionally notated with a Roman numeral I, is made up of the very first note of the key that you’re using, or the first pitch of the scale. If you’re in the key of C, then the I chord is C. Moving up four steps on the scale, the IV (“four”) chord is F, and the V (“five”) chord is G. There are chords that are based on every note of every scale. The key here is finding the guitar chords that sound good together.
The blues progression is typically I, IV and V (“one”, “four” and “five”). Almost all of the blues songs that you’ve ever heard consist of those chords, and many pop and rock songs too. So how do you create a progression that’s exciting and fresh? One answer is something called chord leading.
Chord Leading
Certain chords sound best when they’re followed by certain other chords. Here are some examples of chords that go well together:
I – Any chord
ii, IV, V, vii0
iii, ii, vi
IV, I, V, vii0
V, I
vi, ii
vii0, I, iii
Mix and Match
Now, having shown you a list that seems pretty restrictive, let me balance that by telling you that terrific chord progressions have been easily written without the used of this chart and without the use of chord leading at all. I have a much more informal way of create unique and catchy guitar chord progressions.
Take the chords I, IV, V and vi. This is sometimes called the “Nashville chord progression”, while I’ve also heard it called the “pop chord progression”, but it’s not a progression, it’s just a set of four chords that are often used to create appealing progressions. Play each one four times; let’s say, for right now, that that’s four beats in each of our future measures. Go from one chord to another, in no particular order at all. If you’re inclined to sing or hum a random melody, even if you wouldn’t consider yourself a singer, then I would highly recommend it. It helps the creative process in that it keeps your imagination running. This can help to prevent writer’s block. Plus, the nature of how the human voice phrases music on its own can help to facilitate the motion or fluidity of this new song.
Consider Using a Guitar Chord Progression Generator
A guitar chord progression generator can be a great tool for any musician, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.
There are a few different ways to use one of these generators, but the basic idea is that you input the chords you already know and the generator will output a variety of new progressions for you to try. This can be a great way to spice up your songwriting or simply to find new inspiration. You can also use a guitar chord progression generator as a learning tool.
By inputting chords that you’re working on, you can get a sense of how they sound in different progressions and get ideas for new ways to practice them. Whether you’re looking for new ideas or just want to learn more about the chords you already know, a guitar chord progression generator can be a valuable tool.
Use a Guitar Chord Progression Chart
A guitar chord progression chart is an invaluable tool for any aspiring guitarist. By clearly mapping out the relationships between different chords, it makes it much easier to navigate the fretboard and find the shapes you need.
Chord progressions are also a great way to learn new songs: by understanding how the chords fit together, you can quickly figure out how to play even the most complex tunes. Best of all, a chord progression chart is easy to use: simply line up the chords in order from left to right, and you’ll instantly see how they connect.
So whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your repertoire, be sure to grab a guitar chord progression chart – it’s an essential tool for any serious guitarist.
Keep Everything
Keep everything that you write. One of my college songwriting professors told me that writing about what you write, not about what you think, sounds best. What you think sounds best may change from day to day. Moreover, sometimes we write bits and pieces of songs and progressions on different days that may only come together on some future day.
Unique and catchy guitar chords don’t always, or most often, come overnight. They are built like little houses. Just as in building houses, once you start over-analyzing and rearranging too much, the whole thing could start to crumble. A big part of songwriting is being happy about what’s been written today and leaving it alone.
What is the Most Common Guitar Chord Progression?
The most common guitar chord progression is the I-IV-V progression. This progression can be seen in songs like “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, and “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The I-IV-V progression is made up of the chords I, IV, and V, which are the 1st, 4th, and 5th chords in a major scale. This progression is so common because it sounds good with almost any musical style. It is also easy to remember and play.
In fact, once you learn this progression, you will be able to play hundreds of songs. So if you are just starting out on guitar, make sure to learn the I-IV-V progression. It will take your playing to the next level.
Easy Guitar Chord Progressions – Get Started Today!
Try different combinations of chords until you find something that sounds good to you. Be creative and have fun with it!
There’s so much technology out there to record your musical ideas. But for practical purposes, all that you really need is a simple sound recorder on your laptop or tablet. Remember, this is only in order to remember what you’ve come up with.
To quote the film Napoleon Dynamite, “Listen to your heart. That’s what I do.” Creating anything unique and catchy means looking at what you could contribute artistically and being open and willing to sharing that with the world.
Learn more about playing the guitar and making music by taking private lessons with a guitar instructor. Search for a guitar teacher today!
Heather L. teaches singing, piano, acting, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as through online lessons. She is a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli. Learn more about Heather here!
Photo by Janne Poikolainen
Megan L.