Common chord progressions are common for one reason: they sounded good when songwriters used them in the past, so songwriters who have come after know that using these common chord progressions will also sound good. Songwriting is an art form that requires creativity, imagination, and an understanding of music theory, but if we\u2019re being honest, there\u2019s also a degree of \u201cfake it \u2018til you make it.\u201d And with that approach in mind, one technique you could try is to utilize similar chord progressions as existing songs to write your own. Everybody else is doing it, so why shouldn\u2019t you, right? Heck, even if you\u2019re an established songwriter, trying on somebody else\u2019s chord progression is at the very least a fun exercise, and at best it could lead to a major hit song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First things first, let\u2019s talk about what a chord progression is before we get into common chord progressions. Simply put, it\u2019s the order in which chords are played in a song. And while there are countless chord progressions out there, some are more commonly used than others. Let\u2019s take a look at some of the most common chord progressions. It\u2019s likely you\u2019ll instantly recognize them as soon as we share a couple examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STUDY SONGWRITING WITH BERKLEE ONLINE<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most common chord progressions is the I IV V (or 1 4 5) progression. You\u2019ve probably heard it before, even if you don\u2019t know it by its fancy Roman numerals. It\u2019s a heavily used progression and it has appeared in hit songs that span decades like 1958\u2019s \u201cLa Bamba<\/a>\u201d by Ritchie Valens, the chorus of 1965\u2019s \u201cLike a Rolling Stone<\/a>\u201d by Bob Dylan, the verse of 1976\u2019s \u201cBlitzkrieg Bop\u201d by the Ramones, 1977\u2019s \u201cMy Best Friend\u2019s Girl<\/a>\u201d by the Cars, 1983\u2019s \u201cWalking on Sunshine<\/a>\u201d by Katrina and the Waves, and more. Once you learn the two basic types of major barre chords on guitar, you\u2019ve opened up the gate to a million songs, starting with the I IV V. It\u2019s a simple but effective progression that can be used in a variety of genres to create a catchy and memorable song. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe I IV V (1 4 5) Chord Progression<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n