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Sad chord progressions

Sad progressions sit in a minor key: the home chord is minor, so even the major chords around it sound bittersweet. These are the four the chord generator plays for Sad, heard here as lo-fi.

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
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys
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
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys
In all 12 keys

VI–VII–i

The minor lift

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

Rising and hopeful for a minor key: two major chords climb a step at a time to the minor home chord, which is held for two bars.

Used in future bass, EDM and film.

Use in a beat
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys
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
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys

In every key

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

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

One in a minor key. i–iv–VI–V (Am, Dm, F, E in A minor) is the classic: it stays low for two chords before the major V lifts it. i–VI–III–VII (Am, F, C, G) is sad too, but turns hopeful as it climbs.

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–iv–VI–V in a beatAll chord progressions

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