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Dark chord progressions

Dark progressions are minor and slow to resolve: they sink to VI and iv, or swing between the home chord and the ones below it. These are the four the chord generator plays for Dark, heard here as trap.

i–VI–iv–V

Dark minor

A minor
  1. Am
  2. F
  3. Dm
  4. E

Tense and heavy: VI and iv sink, then the major V of the harmonic minor leans back toward i with a bite.

Used in drill, trap and cinematic music.

Use in a beat
Trap beat · 140 BPM · drums, 808 and pad
In all 12 keys

i–VII–VI–VII

The minor shuttle

A minor
  1. Am
  2. G
  3. F
  4. G

Epic and unresolved: it swings between the home chord and the two major chords below it and never lands on a V.

Used in film scores, metal and Detroit techno.

Use in a beat
Trap beat · 140 BPM · drums, 808 and pad
In all 12 keys

i–VI–III–VII

The epic minor · 6-4-1-5

A minor
  1. Am
  2. F
  3. C
  4. G

Big and bittersweet. It starts on the minor chord, so it sounds sad, then climbs through three major chords that sound like hope. It is the pop progression started from its minor chord.

Used in anthems, EDM, trap and film.

Use in a beat
Trap beat · 140 BPM · drums, 808 and pad
In all 12 keys

i–iv–i–iv

Minor two-chord

A minor
  1. Am
  2. Dm
  3. Am
  4. Dm

Two minor chords rocking back and forth, i and iv. The rhythm carries it.

Used in dancehall, dembow, riddims and Chicago house.

Use in a beat
Trap beat · 140 BPM · drums, 808 and pad

In every key

One chord a bar; a chord held for two bars is written once.

KeyChords
C minor
  • i–VI–iv–VCm – A♭ – Fm – G
  • i–VII–VI–VIICm – B♭ – A♭ – B♭
  • i–VI–III–VIICm – A♭ – E♭ – B♭
  • i–iv–i–ivCm – Fm – Cm – Fm
C♯ minor
  • i–VI–iv–VC♯m – A – F♯m – G♯
  • i–VII–VI–VIIC♯m – B – A – B
  • i–VI–III–VIIC♯m – A – E – B
  • i–iv–i–ivC♯m – F♯m – C♯m – F♯m
D minor
  • i–VI–iv–VDm – B♭ – Gm – A
  • i–VII–VI–VIIDm – C – B♭ – C
  • i–VI–III–VIIDm – B♭ – F – C
  • i–iv–i–ivDm – Gm – Dm – Gm
D♯ minor
  • i–VI–iv–VD♯m – B – G♯m – A♯
  • i–VII–VI–VIID♯m – C♯ – B – C♯
  • i–VI–III–VIID♯m – B – F♯ – C♯
  • i–iv–i–ivD♯m – G♯m – D♯m – G♯m
E minor
  • i–VI–iv–VEm – C – Am – B
  • i–VII–VI–VIIEm – D – C – D
  • i–VI–III–VIIEm – C – G – D
  • i–iv–i–ivEm – Am – Em – Am
F minor
  • i–VI–iv–VFm – D♭ – B♭m – C
  • i–VII–VI–VIIFm – E♭ – D♭ – E♭
  • i–VI–III–VIIFm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭
  • i–iv–i–ivFm – B♭m – Fm – B♭m
F♯ minor
  • i–VI–iv–VF♯m – D – Bm – C♯
  • i–VII–VI–VIIF♯m – E – D – E
  • i–VI–III–VIIF♯m – D – A – E
  • i–iv–i–ivF♯m – Bm – F♯m – Bm
G minor
  • i–VI–iv–VGm – E♭ – Cm – D
  • i–VII–VI–VIIGm – F – E♭ – F
  • i–VI–III–VIIGm – E♭ – B♭ – F
  • i–iv–i–ivGm – Cm – Gm – Cm
G♯ minor
  • i–VI–iv–VG♯m – E – C♯m – D♯
  • i–VII–VI–VIIG♯m – F♯ – E – F♯
  • i–VI–III–VIIG♯m – E – B – F♯
  • i–iv–i–ivG♯m – C♯m – G♯m – C♯m
A minor
  • i–VI–iv–VAm – F – Dm – E
  • i–VII–VI–VIIAm – G – F – G
  • i–VI–III–VIIAm – F – C – G
  • i–iv–i–ivAm – Dm – Am – Dm
B♭ minor
  • i–VI–iv–VB♭m – G♭ – E♭m – F
  • i–VII–VI–VIIB♭m – A♭ – G♭ – A♭
  • i–VI–III–VIIB♭m – G♭ – D♭ – A♭
  • i–iv–i–ivB♭m – E♭m – B♭m – E♭m
B minor
  • i–VI–iv–VBm – G – Em – F♯
  • i–VII–VI–VIIBm – A – G – A
  • i–VI–III–VIIBm – G – D – A
  • i–iv–i–ivBm – Em – Bm – Em

More progressions

Or pick a mood and a key in the chord progression generator.

Frequently asked questions

What chords make a beat sound dark?

A minor key, few chords and a slow pull home. i–VI–iv–V (Am, F, Dm, E) is the drill sound: the major V comes from the harmonic minor and gives it a bite. Two minor chords, i and iv, are enough for a riddim.

Do these progressions work in any key?

Yes. The Roman numerals say which notes of the key each chord is built on, so the same progression works in all 12 keys. The table above has every one, with the chords named.

How do I make a song with one?

Press Use in a beat. The free editor opens with a four-bar beat on those chords: drums, bass and the chords, each its own part. Change a chord, add a melody, record over it or ask for new drums, one part at a time. No account is needed to start; a free account saves your project.

Build a song on these chords

Use in a beat opens the free editor with drums, bass and the chords. Add a melody, record over it or change any part, one at a time.

Use i–VI–iv–V in a beatAll chord progressions

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