In this video
This lesson works through the ten most important chord progressions in popular music, showing how a small number of foundational patterns underpin hundreds of hit songs across every genre.
Each progression is introduced with song examples played live, making it immediately clear how the theory connects to real music. The lesson covers progressions from the completely beginner-accessible all the way through to jazz and modal territory.
The ten progressions covered are:
Two-chord vamp (1-5) — Achy Breaky Heart, Dance the Night Away, Rather Go Blind, Tennessee Whisky
Minor / Aeolian groove (1m-7) — Working Class Hero, Masters of War, All Along the Watchtower, Dreams
12-bar blues (1-4-5) — Johnny B. Goode, Hound Dog, Folsom Prison Blues, I Saw Her Standing There
1-4-5 major — Twist and Shout, La Bamba, You Shook Me All Night Long, Leaving on a Jet Plane
Axis of awesome / Let It Be (1-5-6m-4) — Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, Someone Like You, With or Without You
50s / doo-wop (1-6m-4-5) — Stand By Me, Earth Angel, Every Breath You Take
Descending bass walk (slash chords) — Landslide, Wherever You Will Go, Songbird
Andalusian cadence (1m-7-6-5) — Hit the Road Jack, Sweet Dreams, California Dreamin', Genie in a Bottle
2-5-1 — Autumn Leaves, Mack the Knife, Everybody's Talkin'
1-major7-dominant7-4 (the wistful progression) — Something, Maybe I'm Amazed, Everybody's Talkin'