Generate chord progressions for any key, style, and mood and drag the MIDI into your DAW


Use this free chord progression generator to create musical ideas in any key. Choose from styles such as Pop, Jazz, Soul, Lofi, House, Trap, Rock and Blues, then shape the result with mood, chord colour, voicing, rhythm and bass movement options.

Press generate to create a new progression, then play it back, audition each chord, copy the chord names or download a simple MIDI file to use in your DAW. The tool also shows the Roman numerals and notes inside each chord, helping you understand how the progression works.

This is useful for starting a new track, building chord loops, testing harmonic ideas or learning how common chord progressions are built. If you need a better understanding of chord progressions, chord construction and foundational music theory, check out our music theory for producers guide.

Generate chord progressions by key, genre, section and mood. Lock chords you like, then regenerate the rest to shape the progression.
Chooses the overall harmonic arc before chords are coloured
Controls harmonic pace: holds vs movement, not chord complexity
Off = diatonic. Subtle adds borrowed colour and secondary dominants
Creative keeps it musical, not too textbook
Audio playback isn't available in this browser (Web Audio API couldn't start). You can still generate progressions, copy chords, and download MIDI.
C → F → Am → Gadd9 → C → F → G → Cadd9
I → IV → vi → Vadd9 → I → IV → V → Iadd9
C
I
C – E – G
1 bar
F
IV
F – A – C
1 bar
Am
vi
A – C – E
1 bar
Gadd9
Vadd9
G – B – D – A
1 bar
C
I
C – E – G
1 bar
F
IV
F – A – C
1 bar
G
V
G – B – D
1 bar
Cadd9
Iadd9
C – E – G – D
1 bar
C majorKey and scale
Pop / Chorus / AutoStyle and section
8 bars / Held chords / Balanced movementLength and rhythm
Chorus progressionFixed mode: one chord per bar. Harmonic story: Auto. Compatibility guardrails keep style, story, chord colour, movement and borrowed chords working together. Producer feel favours usable loops and stronger vibe. Movement: Balanced. Version 6.2 scores multiple full progressions internally, rewarding destination, cadence, style accuracy, controlled repetition, phrase evolution and section identity. Borrowed chords are off, so the generator stays diatonic where the selected mode allows. Suspensions off — chords play cleanly.

Latest upgrade on 8th July 2026 at 22:34GMT; Optimized and known bugs fixed

View the User guide for more detail here.


How to Use Chord Progressions in Music Production

A good chord progression gives your track emotional direction. In most genres, chords form the harmonic foundation that melodies, basslines and vocals sit on top of.

Once you generate a progression, try using it in different ways:

  • Piano or Rhodes for the main harmonic layer
  • Pads for atmosphere and width
  • Plucks or synth stabs for rhythmic movement
  • Basslines by following chord roots or chord tones
  • Melodies built from chord notes and scale notes

Even simple progressions can sound completely different depending on arrangement, sound selection, rhythm and tempo.


Common Chord Progressions

Many popular songs are built from simple chord patterns. The chord progression generator can create familiar musical movements like these, as well as more unusual ideas using borrowed chords, suspensions and extended harmony.

Chord Progression Roman Numerals Works Well For
C - G - Am - F I - V - vi - IV Pop, EDM, House
Am - F - C - G vi - IV - I - V Emotional Pop, Trap, Lofi
Dm - G - C - Am ii - V - I - vi Jazz, Soul, Neo Soul
Em - C - G - D vi - IV - I - V Rock, Pop, EDM



Chord Progression Ideas by Genre

Different genres often use similar harmonic ideas, but the rhythm, sound design and arrangement can completely change the result.

  • House and EDM: Try major chords, suspended chords, piano stabs and uplifting chorus-style progressions.
  • Lofi: Minor 7ths, major 7ths, 9ths and softer voicings work well with Rhodes, tape-style keys and dusty drums.
  • Trap: Dark minor progressions, sparse chord movement and simple bass notes often work best.
  • Soul and Neo Soul: Extended chords, smooth voicings, inversions and passing chords help create richer movement.
  • Jazz: ii-V-I movement, 7th chords, 9ths and chromatic passing chords are useful starting points.


How to Build Melodies from Chords

Once you have a chord progression, a simple way to write a melody is to start with the notes inside each chord. These chord tones usually sound strong and stable because they belong to the harmony underneath.

You can then add scale notes between the chord tones to create movement. For example, if your chord is C major, the notes C, E and G will feel stable. Notes such as D, F, A and B can be used as passing notes to connect the melody together.

This approach is useful for writing hooks, vocal melodies, basslines and lead synth parts.


More Music Production Tools

Try more free tools and guides from Transmission Samples:


Happy Composing!