Skip to content

R&B chord progressions

R&B takes simple loops and thickens every chord with sevenths and ninths. These are the progressions the editor’s R&B, neo-soul, trap-soul and pluggnb styles start on, heard here as R&B with sevenths.

ii–V–I

The two-five-one · 2-5-1

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

Smooth and settled. Each root falls a fifth to the next, so the ear hears V coming and I arriving. With sevenths on every chord it is the sound of jazz.

Used in jazz, lo-fi, R&B, neo-soul and gospel.

Use in a beat
R&B beat · 90 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pad
In all 12 keys

IV–I–ii–I

The R&B turn · 4-1-2-1

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

Warm and rocking. It starts away from home on IV, comes back, steps up to the minor ii and back again: soft, never dramatic.

Used in pluggnb, R&B and gospel.

Use in a beat
R&B beat · 90 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pad
In all 12 keys

i–iv–VI–V

Minor pop

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

Moody, but it moves: down to iv, up to VI, then a major V borrowed from the harmonic minor that pulls hard back home.

Used in sad pop, house, R&B and K-pop.

Use in a beat
R&B beat · 90 BPM · drums, bass, keys and pad
In all 12 keys

In every key

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

KeyChords
C majorA minor
  • ii–V–IDm – G – C
  • IV–I–ii–IF – C – Dm – C
  • i–iv–VI–VAm – Dm – F – E
D♭ majorB♭ minor
  • ii–V–IE♭m – A♭ – D♭
  • IV–I–ii–IG♭ – D♭ – E♭m – D♭
  • i–iv–VI–VB♭m – E♭m – G♭ – F
D majorB minor
  • ii–V–IEm – A – D
  • IV–I–ii–IG – D – Em – D
  • i–iv–VI–VBm – Em – G – F♯
E♭ majorC minor
  • ii–V–IFm – B♭ – E♭
  • IV–I–ii–IA♭ – E♭ – Fm – E♭
  • i–iv–VI–VCm – Fm – A♭ – G
E majorC♯ minor
  • ii–V–IF♯m – B – E
  • IV–I–ii–IA – E – F♯m – E
  • i–iv–VI–VC♯m – F♯m – A – G♯
F majorD minor
  • ii–V–IGm – C – F
  • IV–I–ii–IB♭ – F – Gm – F
  • i–iv–VI–VDm – Gm – B♭ – A
F♯ majorD♯ minor
  • ii–V–IG♯m – C♯ – F♯
  • IV–I–ii–IB – F♯ – G♯m – F♯
  • i–iv–VI–VD♯m – G♯m – B – A♯
G majorE minor
  • ii–V–IAm – D – G
  • IV–I–ii–IC – G – Am – G
  • i–iv–VI–VEm – Am – C – B
A♭ majorF minor
  • ii–V–IB♭m – E♭ – A♭
  • IV–I–ii–ID♭ – A♭ – B♭m – A♭
  • i–iv–VI–VFm – B♭m – D♭ – C
A majorF♯ minor
  • ii–V–IBm – E – A
  • IV–I–ii–ID – A – Bm – A
  • i–iv–VI–VF♯m – Bm – D – C♯
B♭ majorG minor
  • ii–V–ICm – F – B♭
  • IV–I–ii–IE♭ – B♭ – Cm – B♭
  • i–iv–VI–VGm – Cm – E♭ – D
B majorG♯ minor
  • ii–V–IC♯m – F♯ – B
  • IV–I–ii–IE – B – C♯m – B
  • i–iv–VI–VG♯m – C♯m – E – D♯

More progressions

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

Frequently asked questions

What chords do R&B songs use?

Seventh and ninth chords on short loops: ii–V–I (Dm9, G13, Cmaj9), IV–I–ii–I, or a minor i–iv–VI–V. The loop stays simple; the chords are rich.

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 ii–V–I in a beatAll chord progressions

Keep going