Progressions

Chord Progressions

Guitar chord progressions for jamming, songwriting, and practice — covering major, minor, and beyond. Includes the number system basics you need to build your own.

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The musical alphabet

The 12 notes, then it repeats.

These chord progressions are great for jamming, playing with friends, or finding ideas for songs you want to write.

The key to understanding chord progressions is the number system. Knowing how chords are built from scales — and how to identify whether a progression is major or minor — opens up the entire fretboard. Once you hear a progression in terms of numbers (I, IV, V), you can play it in any key instantly.

The lessons below cover common chord progressions, how to use them, and how to start building your own.

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Theory made simple. The version that finally sticks.

A free series of lessons that walk through the guitar theory that actually matters, in plain English. Join 20,000+ players on the list.

Finally understand why chords work together.

Three free videos. The fretboard isn't twenty separate positions, it's one system that keeps repeating. Once you see that, the chord shapes you already know stop being mystery moves and start being the where of something bigger. I'll show you in about fifteen minutes total.

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