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Happy chord progressions

Happy progressions sit in a major key and move between its three major chords, I, IV and V, with the minor vi for a little colour. These are the four the chord generator plays for Happy, heard here as pop.

I–V–vi–IV

The pop progression · 1-5-6-4

C major
  1. C
  2. G
  3. Am
  4. F

Bright and easy to sing over. It leaves home for V, dips into the minor vi for a moment of feeling and climbs back through IV, so the loop never sounds finished.

Used in pop, rock, country and ballads.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck
In all 12 keys

I–vi–IV–V

The 50s progression · 1-6-4-5

C major
  1. C
  2. Am
  3. F
  4. G

Sweet and a little nostalgic. The minor vi comes second, and the V at the end pulls back to I, so every loop lands home.

Used in doo-wop, soul, oldies and indie.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck
In all 12 keys

I–IV–V–IV

The montuno · 1-4-5-4

C major
  1. C
  2. F
  3. G
  4. F

Happy and made for dancing: the three major chords of the key, I, IV and V, stepping up and back down without ever settling.

Used in afrobeats, salsa, highlife and rock.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck
In all 12 keys

I–IV–I–IV

Major two-chord

C major
  1. C
  2. F
  3. C
  4. F

I and IV back and forth, played short on the off-beats in reggae.

Used in reggae and ska.

Use in a beat
Pop beat · 110 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pluck

In every key

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

KeyChords
C major
  • I–V–vi–IVC – G – Am – F
  • I–vi–IV–VC – Am – F – G
  • I–IV–V–IVC – F – G – F
  • I–IV–I–IVC – F – C – F
D♭ major
  • I–V–vi–IVD♭ – A♭ – B♭m – G♭
  • I–vi–IV–VD♭ – B♭m – G♭ – A♭
  • I–IV–V–IVD♭ – G♭ – A♭ – G♭
  • I–IV–I–IVD♭ – G♭ – D♭ – G♭
D major
  • I–V–vi–IVD – A – Bm – G
  • I–vi–IV–VD – Bm – G – A
  • I–IV–V–IVD – G – A – G
  • I–IV–I–IVD – G – D – G
E♭ major
  • I–V–vi–IVE♭ – B♭ – Cm – A♭
  • I–vi–IV–VE♭ – Cm – A♭ – B♭
  • I–IV–V–IVE♭ – A♭ – B♭ – A♭
  • I–IV–I–IVE♭ – A♭ – E♭ – A♭
E major
  • I–V–vi–IVE – B – C♯m – A
  • I–vi–IV–VE – C♯m – A – B
  • I–IV–V–IVE – A – B – A
  • I–IV–I–IVE – A – E – A
F major
  • I–V–vi–IVF – C – Dm – B♭
  • I–vi–IV–VF – Dm – B♭ – C
  • I–IV–V–IVF – B♭ – C – B♭
  • I–IV–I–IVF – B♭ – F – B♭
F♯ major
  • I–V–vi–IVF♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B
  • I–vi–IV–VF♯ – D♯m – B – C♯
  • I–IV–V–IVF♯ – B – C♯ – B
  • I–IV–I–IVF♯ – B – F♯ – B
G major
  • I–V–vi–IVG – D – Em – C
  • I–vi–IV–VG – Em – C – D
  • I–IV–V–IVG – C – D – C
  • I–IV–I–IVG – C – G – C
A♭ major
  • I–V–vi–IVA♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭
  • I–vi–IV–VA♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭
  • I–IV–V–IVA♭ – D♭ – E♭ – D♭
  • I–IV–I–IVA♭ – D♭ – A♭ – D♭
A major
  • I–V–vi–IVA – E – F♯m – D
  • I–vi–IV–VA – F♯m – D – E
  • I–IV–V–IVA – D – E – D
  • I–IV–I–IVA – D – A – D
B♭ major
  • I–V–vi–IVB♭ – F – Gm – E♭
  • I–vi–IV–VB♭ – Gm – E♭ – F
  • I–IV–V–IVB♭ – E♭ – F – E♭
  • I–IV–I–IVB♭ – E♭ – B♭ – E♭
B major
  • I–V–vi–IVB – F♯ – G♯m – E
  • I–vi–IV–VB – G♯m – E – F♯
  • I–IV–V–IVB – E – F♯ – E
  • I–IV–I–IVB – E – B – E

More progressions

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

Frequently asked questions

What makes a chord progression sound happy?

A major home chord and a loop that spends most of its time on major chords. I, IV and V are the three major chords of every major key; I–IV–V–IV uses nothing else, and I–V–vi–IV adds one minor chord for feeling.

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–V–vi–IV in a beatAll chord progressions

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