Minor chord progressions: in any minor key, with MIDI

How to use it

Generate. The tool opens in A minor. Pick another minor key from the Key menu, a mood and a genre if you like, and press Generate.
Make it yours. Lock the chords you like and swap the rest for others that fit. Drag cards to change the order.
Take it away. Download it as MIDI at your tempo, with the drums if you like.

Every minor key has seven chords, one on each note of its scale. In A minor they're written i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI and VII:

Two things to know:

The v is often made major. In natural minor the v is minor (Em in A minor) and barely pulls home. Most songs raise one note to make it major (E), and the pull back to i gets strong. That's i–iv–V–i.
Every minor key shares its chords with a major key. A minor and C major use the same seven chords. What changes is which one feels like home. That's why i–VI–III–VII in A minor and vi–IV–I–V in C major are the same four chords.

In A minor. Play one, or open it in the tool to change its key and download it.

A chord for every half bar, from anything your Mac plays.

What is the most common minor chord progression?

i–VI–III–VII: Am, F, C, G in A minor. It runs under countless pop, rock and EDM songs, from Linkin Park's "Numb" to festival drops.

What are the chords in A minor?

Am, Bdim, C, Dm, Em, F and G. Songs often swap Em for E major, which pulls back to Am more strongly.

Why do minor progressions use a major V chord?

A major V contains the note a half step below home (G♯ in A minor), and that note wants to rise. A minor v doesn't have it, so the pull is weaker.

What is the Andalusian cadence?

i–VII–VI–V: Am, G, F, E. A walk down to a major V. Ray Charles's "Hit the Road Jack" loops it.

Can I use these progressions in my songs?

Yes. Chord progressions can't be owned, and what you make with them is yours.

Piano sounds by the Salamander Grand Piano (Alexander Holm), CC BY 3.0. Guitar sounds from the University of Iowa Electronic Music Studios.