Chord Progression Generator - Online Chord Progressions

How to use this tool

1. Select a root note and scale (mode).
2. Pick a progression pattern from the presets or build your own.
3. Click "Play Progression" to hear the chords.

About chord progressions

A chord progression is a sequence of chords drawn from a key. Common ones like I–V–vi–IV appear in thousands of pop songs. This tool shows all 7 diatonic chords in your chosen key and lets you assemble or choose degree-pattern presets to hear them. It builds and plays triads; borrowed chords, sevenths, inversions, and other extensions are not included.

Scale modes supported

Major, Natural Minor, Dorian, Mixolydian, Lydian, and Phrygian - all 12 root notes.

Roman numeral notation

The chord buttons show Roman numerals relative to the selected scale degree and update their case to match each triad: uppercase = major, lowercase = minor, and ° = diminished. In C major, for example, the labels are I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, and vii°. In A natural minor they are i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, and VII. The chord symbols beside them show the actual notes, so the same degree pattern can be used with different roots.

Popular chord progressions

The built-in presets are degree patterns, and their Roman labels update for the selected mode. For example, degrees 1–5–6–4 show as I–V–vi–IV in major and i–v–VI–iv in natural minor. The final minor-key example below is not a preset; to build it, select Natural Minor and click scale degrees 1, 7, 6, and 7.

Tension and resolution

In major-key harmony, a dominant seventh chord adds the seventh above the V chord's root; its third and seventh form a tritone that often resolves toward the tonic. This tool plays triads only, so it does not include that seventh or let you hear the V7 tritone. A V triad can still give a sense of motion toward I, while the V7 sound described here requires a seventh chord. The IV triad is another common route back to I.

Diatonic chords explained

A key's diatonic chords are the seven chords built by stacking thirds on each scale degree using only notes from that scale. In any major key, the pattern is always: I (major) – ii (minor) – iii (minor) – IV (major) – V (major) – vi (minor) – vii° (diminished). This pattern is the same in every major key; only the root notes change.

Mode-specific progressions

These are examples to assemble manually, not selectable presets. Choose the named mode, then click its scale degrees in order. Every palette chord is diatonic to that mode; borrowed chords are not supported. Roman numerals count positions in the selected scale, and the chord symbols show accidentals in the actual notes.

• Dorian: i – IV (a minor i with a major IV is distinctive; for example, Am – D). The raised 6th degree makes the IV chord major, giving Dorian its characteristic "minor but bright" quality.
• Mixolydian: I – VII – IV (the VII chord is rooted on the flattened seventh note compared with major; in C Mixolydian this tool spells that root A#).
• Phrygian: i – II (the major II chord is rooted on the flattened second note; for example, A Phrygian gives Am – A# in this tool's sharp-only spelling).