If you want to write a song but do not know which chords to place in sequence, first choose a key. Then select from the chords that occur naturally within that key.
Chord progressions involve a great deal of theory, but you do not need to learn difficult chords at the beginning. Start by using one key and its basic chords to create a four-measure progression.
The Key Is the Tonal Center of a Song
The key indicates which note feels like the point of resolution in a song. C is the center of C major, while A is the center of A minor. C major is an accessible starting point for beginners because it can be explored using only the white keys of a keyboard.
Build Chords from the Notes of the Scale
The C major scale contains seven notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Treat each note as a root note and stack alternating notes from the scale to create the basic diatonic chords.
- C: C major
- Dm: D minor
- Em: E minor
- F: F major
- G: G major
- Am: A minor
- Bdim: B diminished
At first, choosing from the six chords other than Bdim will be easier.
Chords Serve Stable, Moving, and Tense Functions
Chords have roles within a song in addition to their sound. Organizing them as tonic, dominant, and subdominant makes the flow of a progression easier to understand.
- Tonic: A place of resolution, such as C or Am
- Subdominant: A place that sets the progression in motion, such as F or Dm
- Dominant: Tension that wants to resolve to the tonic, such as G
Arranging the chords as C to F to G to C demonstrates a basic flow that moves from stability through motion and tension before returning home.
Create Your First Four-Chord Progression
C to G to Am to F is an accessible example for beginners. Play each chord for one measure and loop the resulting four measures. Even with the same chords, changing the sound between piano, guitar, pad, or another instrument can greatly alter the impression.
If the progression feels monotonous, try changing the rhythm, note lengths, or inversions before adding more chords. Connecting chord tones in nearby positions creates smoother movement between chords.
Use Chord Tones as Melodic Destinations
When writing a melody over the progression, placing chord tones where the chord changes or on long notes helps the melody blend with the accompaniment. Connecting those destinations with other notes from the scale creates natural motion.
Try Chords from Outside the Key Later
Once you are comfortable, you can temporarily use chords from outside the key, including borrowed chords and secondary dominants. At the beginning, however, it is important to learn the feeling of resolution, motion, and return by ear using only diatonic chords.
Creating a chord progression is not a matter of choosing one correct answer. Learn the natural options within the key, play them, and choose the flow that makes you want to continue to the next chord.
