Music tools
Chord progression generator
Pick a key and major or minor, then generate a common chord progression with roman numerals and real chord names. Everything runs in your browser.
How it works
A chord progression is the sequence of chords a piece of music moves through, and a handful of progressions turn up again and again across pop, rock, folk, and jazz. Pick a key and whether you want major or minor, and the generator gives you a common progression written both in roman numerals (the key-independent shape, like I-V-vi-IV) and in the actual chord names for your key, so you can play it straight away.
Generate again for a different progression to find one that fits your idea, or transpose the shape in your head to any key using the roman numerals. The chords are derived from the diatonic harmony of the key you chose, computed in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
Example. In C major the generator might give I-V-vi-IV, which spells C - G - Am - F. In A minor it might give i-VI-III-VII, which spells Am - F - C - G.
FAQ
What do the roman numerals mean?
They number the chords by their position in the key: I is the chord built on the first scale degree, V on the fifth, and so on. Uppercase usually means a major chord and lowercase a minor one. Roman numerals describe the progression independently of the key, so the same shape works anywhere.
Are these real, usable progressions?
Yes. They are common progressions drawn from popular music - like the I-V-vi-IV "axis" progression and the ii-V-I jazz cadence - chosen because they sound good and are widely used.
Can I get progressions in any key?
Yes. Choose any key and major or minor, and the chords are spelled for that key. Because the progression is also shown in roman numerals, you can move it to other keys yourself too.
Does it run offline?
Yes. The chords are worked out in your browser from the key you pick, with no server calls, so it works offline and nothing is uploaded.