Chord Progression Shortcuts

Common chord movements in major and minor scales

🎹 MAJOR SCALES

C Major

C (I) tonic

— F (IV), G (V), Am (vi) —

C is home base → can move to F or G easily

Dm (ii) supertonic

— G (V), Am (vi), F (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

Em (iii) mediant

— Am (vi), F (IV), G (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

F (IV) subdominant

— C (I), Dm (ii), G (V), Am (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

G (V) dominant

— C (I), Am (vi), F (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to C

Am (vi) submediant

— F (IV), Dm (ii), G (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

Bdim (vii°) leading tone

— C (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

G Major

G (I) tonic

— C (IV), D (V), Em (vi) —

G is home base → can move to C or D easily

Am (ii) supertonic

— D (V), Em (vi), C (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

Bm (iii) mediant

— Em (vi), C (IV), D (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

C (IV) subdominant

— G (I), Am (ii), D (V), Em (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

D (V) dominant

— G (I), Em (vi), C (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to G

Em (vi) submediant

— C (IV), Am (ii), D (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

F#dim (vii°) leading tone

— G (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

D Major

D (I) tonic

— G (IV), A (V), Bm (vi) —

D is home base → can move to G or A easily

Em (ii) supertonic

— A (V), Bm (vi), G (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

F#m (iii) mediant

— Bm (vi), G (IV), A (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

G (IV) subdominant

— D (I), Em (ii), A (V), Bm (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

A (V) dominant

— D (I), Bm (vi), G (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to D

Bm (vi) submediant

— G (IV), Em (ii), A (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

C#dim (vii°) leading tone

— D (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

A Major

A (I) tonic

— D (IV), E (V), F#m (vi) —

A is home base → can move to D or E easily

Bm (ii) supertonic

— E (V), F#m (vi), D (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

C#m (iii) mediant

— F#m (vi), D (IV), E (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

D (IV) subdominant

— A (I), Bm (ii), E (V), F#m (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

E (V) dominant

— A (I), F#m (vi), D (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to A

F#m (vi) submediant

— D (IV), Bm (ii), E (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

G#dim (vii°) leading tone

— A (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

E Major

E (I) tonic

— A (IV), B (V), C#m (vi) —

E is home base → can move to A or B easily

F#m (ii) supertonic

— B (V), C#m (vi), A (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

G#m (iii) mediant

— C#m (vi), A (IV), B (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

A (IV) subdominant

— E (I), F#m (ii), B (V), C#m (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

B (V) dominant

— E (I), C#m (vi), A (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to E

C#m (vi) submediant

— A (IV), F#m (ii), B (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

D#dim (vii°) leading tone

— E (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

B Major

B (I) tonic

— E (IV), F# (V), G#m (vi) —

B is home base → can move to E or F# easily

C#m (ii) supertonic

— F# (V), G#m (vi), E (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

D#m (iii) mediant

— G#m (vi), E (IV), F# (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

E (IV) subdominant

— B (I), C#m (ii), F# (V), G#m (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

F# (V) dominant

— B (I), G#m (vi), E (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to B

G#m (vi) submediant

— E (IV), C#m (ii), F# (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

A#dim (vii°) leading tone

— B (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

F Major

F (I) tonic

— B♭ (IV), C (V), Dm (vi) —

F is home base → can move to B♭ or C easily

Gm (ii) supertonic

— C (V), Dm (vi), B♭ (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

Am (iii) mediant

— Dm (vi), B♭ (IV), C (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

B♭ (IV) subdominant

— F (I), Gm (ii), C (V), Dm (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

C (V) dominant

— F (I), Dm (vi), B♭ (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to F

Dm (vi) submediant

— B♭ (IV), Gm (ii), C (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

Edim (vii°) leading tone

— F (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

B♭ Major

B♭ (I) tonic

— E♭ (IV), F (V), Gm (vi) —

B♭ is home base → can move to E♭ or F easily

Cm (ii) supertonic

— F (V), Gm (vi), E♭ (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

Dm (iii) mediant

— Gm (vi), E♭ (IV), F (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

E♭ (IV) subdominant

— B♭ (I), Cm (ii), F (V), Gm (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

F (V) dominant

— B♭ (I), Gm (vi), E♭ (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to B♭

Gm (vi) submediant

— E♭ (IV), Cm (ii), F (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

Adim (vii°) leading tone

— B♭ (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

E♭ Major

E♭ (I) tonic

— A♭ (IV), B♭ (V), Cm (vi) —

E♭ is home base → can move to A♭ or B♭ easily

Fm (ii) supertonic

— B♭ (V), Cm (vi), A♭ (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

Gm (iii) mediant

— Cm (vi), A♭ (IV), B♭ (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

A♭ (IV) subdominant

— E♭ (I), Fm (ii), B♭ (V), Cm (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

B♭ (V) dominant

— E♭ (I), Cm (vi), A♭ (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to E♭

Cm (vi) submediant

— A♭ (IV), Fm (ii), B♭ (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

Ddim (vii°) leading tone

— E♭ (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

A♭ Major

A♭ (I) tonic

— D♭ (IV), E♭ (V), Fm (vi) —

A♭ is home base → can move to D♭ or E♭ easily

B♭m (ii) supertonic

— E♭ (V), Fm (vi), D♭ (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

Cm (iii) mediant

— Fm (vi), D♭ (IV), E♭ (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

D♭ (IV) subdominant

— A♭ (I), B♭m (ii), E♭ (V), Fm (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

E♭ (V) dominant

— A♭ (I), Fm (vi), D♭ (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to A♭

Fm (vi) submediant

— D♭ (IV), B♭m (ii), E♭ (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

Gdim (vii°) leading tone

— A♭ (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

D♭ Major

D♭ (I) tonic

— G♭ (IV), A♭ (V), B♭m (vi) —

D♭ is home base → can move to G♭ or A♭ easily

E♭m (ii) supertonic

— A♭ (V), B♭m (vi), G♭ (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

Fm (iii) mediant

— B♭m (vi), G♭ (IV), A♭ (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

G♭ (IV) subdominant

— D♭ (I), E♭m (ii), A♭ (V), B♭m (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

A♭ (V) dominant

— D♭ (I), B♭m (vi), G♭ (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to D♭

B♭m (vi) submediant

— G♭ (IV), E♭m (ii), A♭ (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

Cdim (vii°) leading tone

— D♭ (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

G♭ Major

G♭ (I) tonic

— C♭ (IV), D♭ (V), E♭m (vi) —

G♭ is home base → can move to C♭ or D♭ easily

A♭m (ii) supertonic

— D♭ (V), E♭m (vi), C♭ (IV) —

ii → V → I (common "Cadence")

B♭m (iii) mediant

— E♭m (vi), C♭ (IV), D♭ (V) —

Smooth stepwise bass

C♭ (IV) subdominant

— G♭ (I), A♭m (ii), D♭ (V), E♭m (vi) —

IV often resolves back to I

D♭ (V) dominant

— G♭ (I), E♭m (vi), C♭ (IV) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to G♭

E♭m (vi) submediant

— C♭ (IV), A♭m (ii), D♭ (V) —

Minor mood or pop-sounding transitions

Fdim (vii°) leading tone

— G♭ (I) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

🎵 MINOR SCALES

A Minor

Am (i) tonic

— Dm (iv), E (V), C (VI) —

Am is home base → can move to Dm or E easily

Bdim (ii°) supertonic

— E (V), C (VI), Dm (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

C (III) mediant

— F (VI), Dm (iv), E (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

Dm (iv) subdominant

— Am (i), Bdim (ii°), E (V), C (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

E (V) dominant

— Am (i), C (III), Dm (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to Am

F (VI) submediant

— Dm (iv), Bdim (ii°), E (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

G (VII) subtonic

— Am (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

E Minor

Em (i) tonic

— Am (iv), B (V), G (VI) —

Em is home base → can move to Am or B easily

F#dim (ii°) supertonic

— B (V), G (VI), Am (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

G (III) mediant

— C (VI), Am (iv), B (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

Am (iv) subdominant

— Em (i), F#dim (ii°), B (V), G (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

B (V) dominant

— Em (i), G (III), Am (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to Em

C (VI) submediant

— Am (iv), F#dim (ii°), B (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

D (VII) subtonic

— Em (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

B Minor

Bm (i) tonic

— Em (iv), F# (V), D (VI) —

Bm is home base → can move to Em or F# easily

C#dim (ii°) supertonic

— F# (V), D (VI), Em (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

D (III) mediant

— G (VI), Em (iv), F# (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

Em (iv) subdominant

— Bm (i), C#dim (ii°), F# (V), D (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

F# (V) dominant

— Bm (i), D (III), Em (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to Bm

G (VI) submediant

— Em (iv), C#dim (ii°), F# (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

A (VII) subtonic

— Bm (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

F# Minor

F#m (i) tonic

— Bm (iv), C# (V), A (VI) —

F#m is home base → can move to Bm or C# easily

G#dim (ii°) supertonic

— C# (V), A (VI), Bm (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

A (III) mediant

— D (VI), Bm (iv), C# (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

Bm (iv) subdominant

— F#m (i), G#dim (ii°), C# (V), A (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

C# (V) dominant

— F#m (i), A (III), Bm (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to F#m

D (VI) submediant

— Bm (iv), G#dim (ii°), C# (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

E (VII) subtonic

— F#m (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

C# Minor

C#m (i) tonic

— F#m (iv), G# (V), E (VI) —

C#m is home base → can move to F#m or G# easily

D#dim (ii°) supertonic

— G# (V), E (VI), F#m (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

E (III) mediant

— A (VI), F#m (iv), G# (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

F#m (iv) subdominant

— C#m (i), D#dim (ii°), G# (V), E (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

G# (V) dominant

— C#m (i), E (III), F#m (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to C#m

A (VI) submediant

— F#m (iv), D#dim (ii°), G# (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

B (VII) subtonic

— C#m (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

G# Minor

G#m (i) tonic

— C#m (iv), D# (V), B (VI) —

G#m is home base → can move to C#m or D# easily

A#dim (ii°) supertonic

— D# (V), B (VI), C#m (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

B (III) mediant

— E (VI), C#m (iv), D# (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

C#m (iv) subdominant

— G#m (i), A#dim (ii°), D# (V), B (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

D# (V) dominant

— G#m (i), B (III), C#m (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to G#m

E (VI) submediant

— C#m (iv), A#dim (ii°), D# (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

F# (VII) subtonic

— G#m (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

D# Minor

D#m (i) tonic

— G#m (iv), A# (V), F# (VI) —

D#m is home base → can move to G#m or A# easily

E#dim (ii°) supertonic

— A# (V), F# (VI), G#m (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

F# (III) mediant

— B (VI), G#m (iv), A# (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

G#m (iv) subdominant

— D#m (i), E#dim (ii°), A# (V), F# (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

A# (V) dominant

— D#m (i), F# (III), G#m (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to D#m

B (VI) submediant

— G#m (iv), E#dim (ii°), A# (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

C# (VII) subtonic

— D#m (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

A# Minor

A#m (i) tonic

— D#m (iv), E# (V), C# (VI) —

A#m is home base → can move to D#m or E# easily

B#dim (ii°) supertonic

— E# (V), C# (VI), D#m (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

C# (III) mediant

— F# (VI), D#m (iv), E# (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

D#m (iv) subdominant

— A#m (i), B#dim (ii°), E# (V), C# (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

E# (V) dominant

— A#m (i), C# (III), D#m (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to A#m

F# (VI) submediant

— D#m (iv), B#dim (ii°), E# (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

G# (VII) subtonic

— A#m (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

D Minor

Dm (i) tonic

— Gm (iv), A (V), F (VI) —

Dm is home base → can move to Gm or A easily

Edim (ii°) supertonic

— A (V), F (VI), Gm (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

F (III) mediant

— B♭ (VI), Gm (iv), A (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

Gm (iv) subdominant

— Dm (i), Edim (ii°), A (V), F (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

A (V) dominant

— Dm (i), F (III), Gm (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to Dm

B♭ (VI) submediant

— Gm (iv), Edim (ii°), A (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

C (VII) subtonic

— Dm (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

G Minor

Gm (i) tonic

— Cm (iv), D (V), B♭ (VI) —

Gm is home base → can move to Cm or D easily

Adim (ii°) supertonic

— D (V), B♭ (VI), Cm (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

B♭ (III) mediant

— E♭ (VI), Cm (iv), D (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

Cm (iv) subdominant

— Gm (i), Adim (ii°), D (V), B♭ (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

D (V) dominant

— Gm (i), B♭ (III), Cm (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to Gm

E♭ (VI) submediant

— Cm (iv), Adim (ii°), D (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

F (VII) subtonic

— Gm (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

C Minor

Cm (i) tonic

— Fm (iv), G (V), E♭ (VI) —

Cm is home base → can move to Fm or G easily

Ddim (ii°) supertonic

— G (V), E♭ (VI), Fm (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

E♭ (III) mediant

— A♭ (VI), Fm (iv), G (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

Fm (iv) subdominant

— Cm (i), Ddim (ii°), G (V), E♭ (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

G (V) dominant

— Cm (i), E♭ (III), Fm (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to Cm

A♭ (VI) submediant

— Fm (iv), Ddim (ii°), G (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

B♭ (VII) subtonic

— Cm (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

F Minor

Fm (i) tonic

— B♭m (iv), C (V), A♭ (VI) —

Fm is home base → can move to B♭m or C easily

Gdim (ii°) supertonic

— C (V), A♭ (VI), B♭m (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

A♭ (III) mediant

— D♭ (VI), B♭m (iv), C (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

B♭m (iv) subdominant

— Fm (i), Gdim (ii°), C (V), A♭ (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

C (V) dominant

— Fm (i), A♭ (III), B♭m (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to Fm

D♭ (VI) submediant

— B♭m (iv), Gdim (ii°), C (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

E♭ (VII) subtonic

— Fm (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

B♭ Minor

B♭m (i) tonic

— E♭m (iv), F (V), D♭ (VI) —

B♭m is home base → can move to E♭m or F easily

Cdim (ii°) supertonic

— F (V), D♭ (VI), E♭m (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

D♭ (III) mediant

— G♭ (VI), E♭m (iv), F (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

E♭m (iv) subdominant

— B♭m (i), Cdim (ii°), F (V), D♭ (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

F (V) dominant

— B♭m (i), D♭ (III), E♭m (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to B♭m

G♭ (VI) submediant

— E♭m (iv), Cdim (ii°), F (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

A♭ (VII) subtonic

— B♭m (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic

E♭ Minor

E♭m (i) tonic

— A♭m (iv), B♭ (V), G♭ (VI) —

E♭m is home base → can move to A♭m or B♭ easily

Fdim (ii°) supertonic

— B♭ (V), G♭ (VI), A♭m (iv) —

ii° → V → i (common "Cadence")

G♭ (III) mediant

— C♭ (VI), A♭m (iv), B♭ (V) —

Relative major, bright sound

A♭m (iv) subdominant

— E♭m (i), Fdim (ii°), B♭ (V), G♭ (III) —

iv often resolves back to i

B♭ (V) dominant

— E♭m (i), G♭ (III), A♭m (iv) —

Strong "tension → resolution" to E♭m

C♭ (VI) submediant

— A♭m (iv), Fdim (ii°), B♭ (V) —

Major mood or pop-sounding transitions

D♭ (VII) subtonic

— E♭m (i) —

Creates tension, resolves to tonic