This chord progression generator turns a sequence of chord names into something you can hear, change and practice. Start with C–G–Am–F, choose another pattern, or generate four chords in your selected key. Each card shows the notes that actually sound, including their octaves. Hear a single chord by pressing its name, or play the complete progression on the piano above.
The builder supports all twelve major keys and twelve minor keys. It uses three-note chords, called triads, with a separate major V option in minor. For seventh chords, suspended chords and other individual shapes, use the piano chord finder.
Start with a pattern, then change one thing
The starting patterns are useful reference points. They keep the same relationships when you change key:
| Pattern | In C major | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| I–V–vi–IV | C–G–Am–F | Hear how the minor chord changes the middle of the loop. |
| I–IV–V–I | C–F–G–C | End on the home chord and listen for a sense of arrival. |
| I–vi–IV–V | C–Am–F–G | Compare the same four chords in a different order. |
| ii–V–I | Dm–G–C | Practice the three triads before adding sevenths yourself. |
The longer Canon pattern has eight chords: I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V. In minor, try i–VI–III–VII or i–iv–V–i. The latter uses a raised seventh scale note in its V chord. Selecting a minor pattern changes the scale setting to Minor while keeping your chosen tonic.
Generate 4 chords provides a different starting point. Every result begins on the tonic, the home chord, then chooses three more chords without an immediate repeat. Diminished triads remain available in the chord menus even though the generator skips them. A generated pattern is an idea to develop; chord selection alone does not create a melody, rhythm or complete song.
Read the numbers and the note names
Roman numerals describe a chord's root relative to the key. Capital letters indicate major triads, lowercase letters indicate minor triads, and the small circle means diminished. In C major, vi is Am; in G major, vi is Em. Changing key keeps that relationship. The progressions lesson gives more examples in C, G and D.
Minor numerals here count from the natural minor scale: III, VI and VII are its third, sixth and seventh chords. Some pop charts instead write those as flat III, flat VI and flat VII relative to the parallel major scale. The spelled chord names remove that ambiguity. In A minor, VI here is F major.
Hear what inversions change
In root position, C major is C–E–G. Its first inversion puts E underneath: E–G–C. Its second inversion puts G underneath: G–C–E. The chord's notes stay the same, but their order and bass note change. A slash name such as C/E tells you that E is the lowest sounding note.
Press Use nearby inversions to keep the first chord in place and choose nearby versions of the later chords. The builder compares the total movement of the three notes, including the return to the first chord. It uses close triads in the lower and middle registers. This helps you hear smaller changes; it does not choose fingering or enforce classical voice-leading rules.
You can also set each inversion yourself. The Register menu shifts the chord's root octave between 3 and 4 before applying the inversion. The note labels show the resulting pitches: C4 is middle C. Use root positions to reset every card to a root-position chord in the middle register.
Practice the changes at a steady pace
Start at a tempo where you can find the next chord before it arrives. Each card can last one, two, four or eight quarter-note beats. Four beats makes each chord a full bar in a 4/4 practice pattern; two beats lets you change twice per bar. Uneven choices are allowed, so a custom sequence does not always end on a bar line.
Leave Loop checked to repeat, and play a melody or the same chords on your own keyboard. Tempo and volume can change during playback. Editing the chords stops playback so the next Play uses the new sequence. Switching to another tab also stops the sound. If you want clicks for a separate practice session, open the metronome.
Keep a useful progression
Download MIDI saves one pass, with the chosen tempo and chord lengths. Import it into music software to choose a different instrument or build a melody around it. Looping is a playback setting; it does not make the downloaded file repeat forever. MIDI stores the notes and their timing, so its sound depends on the instrument that plays it.
Copy link puts the chords and settings into a link you can save or share. The progression is carried in the link itself, without an account or a server upload. Opening it restores the editor and waits for someone to press Play. The basic chords lesson is a useful next stop if you want to transfer these shapes to a physical keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Is the chord progression generator free?
Yes. Editing, piano playback, MIDI download and share links are free, with no account or installation. The progression is created in your browser.
Does the generator use AI?
No. Generate 4 chords chooses from the chords of your selected key, starts on the tonic and avoids consecutive repeats and diminished triads. You can edit the result. It does not analyze a song or promise an original composition.
Can I download the progression as MIDI?
Yes. Download MIDI saves one pass with your exact pitches, inversions, chord lengths and tempo. It includes the short gaps between chords. The file contains note instructions, not a piano audio recording.
What is the difference between v and V in a minor key?
Lowercase v is a minor chord built from the natural minor scale. Uppercase V raises its third by a semitone, using the raised seventh note of the key. In A minor, v is E G B and V is E G# B. The tool offers both and labels V as raised 7th.
Will changing key keep my progression?
Yes. Changing the key transposes the scale degrees while keeping the order, inversions and lengths. Changing between major and minor also changes the chord qualities to follow that scale.