5 Popular Guitar Chord Progressions Youll Instantly Recognize

5 Popular Guitar Chord Progressions Youll Instantly Recognize Sign up successful So, if you’re not familiar with using Roman numerals, here’s a quick run-through: The most basic way to make chords is to play the notes in a scale alternating every other note.  One of the most basic chords is a triad.  A triad has three notes.  So, if you make one chord built from each note in the C Major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B), these are the chords you end up with: C major (C, E, G) D minor (D, F, A) E minor (E, G, B) F major (F, A, C) G major (G, B, D) A minor (A, C, E) B diminished (B, D, F) Triads built from the 1st, 4th, and 5th scale degrees are major chords.  Triads built from the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th scale degrees are minor chords.  A triad built from the 7th scale degree is a diminished chord. Now, if you use Roman numerals to label each chord that we just made from the C Major scale, you see this: I (Cmaj), ii (Dmin), iii (Emin), IV (FMaj), V (G), vi (Amin), vii ° (Bdim) Notice that upper-case Roman numerals are used for major chords, while lower-case Roman numerals are used for minor and diminished chords. Next, its time to play! Below are five popular guitar chord progressions in pop music. When you play the other songs in other keys, just think about the progressions in terms of Roman numerals to understand the relationship between them. 1. D-C-G: Royals Lorde This same chord progression is also used in these songs, only in a different key: More Than a Feeling Boston; You Got It Roy Orbison 2. G, C, G, D: Brown Eyed Girl Van Morisson This same chord progression is also used in these songs, only in a different key: Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond; Ballad of John and Yoko The Beatles 3. E-C#min-A-B: No Surprises Radiohead This same chord progression is also used in these songs, only in a different key: Every Breath You Take The Police; Happiness is a Warm Gun The Beatles; Duke of Earl Gene Chandler; Last Kiss: Pearl Jam 4. G-A-C-G: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Club Hearts Band The Beatles This same chord progression is also used in these songs, only in a different key: The Boys Are Back In Town Thin Lizzy; Ride Captain Ride The Blues Image; All Around the World Oasis For more chord progressions and songs check out this article from Roadie Tuner. 5. C-G-Amin-F: Let It Be The Beatles This same chord progression is also used in these songs, only in a different key: Don’t Stop Believing Journey; You’re Beautiful James Blunt; Land Down Under Men at Work; Soul To Squeeze Red Hot Chili Peppers; Man In the Mirror Michael Jackson After learning these five extremely popular guitar chord progressions, I hope you can play more of your favorite songs and also have a starting place for writing your own! Andy W. teaches guitar, singing, piano, and more in Greeley, CO. He  specializes in jazz, and has played guitar for 12 years. Learn more about Andy here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Andrew Gustar