What are some chord progressions that create emotional impact in a song?

Chord progressions are the backbone of any song. They provide the harmonic framework that supports the melody, lyrics, and mood of the music. Different chord progressions can evoke different emotions in the listener, depending on how they are arranged, played, and combined. In this article, you will learn about some common and effective chord progressions that create emotional impact in a song, and how to use them in your own compositions.

1 The I-V-vi-IV progression

This is one of the most popular and versatile chord progressions in modern music. It consists of the first, fifth, sixth, and fourth chords of the major scale, and can be found in countless songs across genres and styles. The I-V-vi-IV progression creates a sense of uplifting, hopeful, and catchy energy, as it alternates between major and minor chords, and resolves back to the tonic. You can use this progression to write upbeat, anthemic, or romantic songs, and experiment with different rhythms, inversions, and embellishments.

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Geovane Bento

Top Voice Linkedin | Diretor Artístico da NOAR Produções | Coolhunter | Estrategista Fonográfico | Membro da Academia do Grammy Latino | Especialista em Diferenciação Profissional | Autor do Livro “Construído Estrelas”.
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Chord progressions are fundamental in structuring a piece of music, providing the harmonic base that guides the melody and rhythm. They are essential for creating tension and resolution, setting the emotional tone of the piece. However, it is the musician's feeling that truly brings the music to life, transforming a sequence of chords into an emotional experience. The passion, expression, and emotional connection of the musician with the music are what make it touching and memorable for the listener. Even the most sophisticated chord progression can sound empty without the soul and emotion of the musician. Therefore, while chord progressions are important, it is the musician's feeling that is the key to truly touching people with music.

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Carlos CCM Castaneda

There's only one way to go>>> FORWARD!!!
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Circle of fifths always do the trick. You can hear it in so many songs, by so many different artists since forever.... I can hear The Jackson 5 already :)

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2 The vi-IV-I-V progression

This is a variation of the previous progression, where the order of the chords is changed. It starts with the sixth chord of the major scale, which is a minor chord, and then moves to the fourth, first, and fifth chords, which are all major. The vi-IV-I-V progression creates a sense of contrast, tension, and release, as it begins with a darker and more melancholic tone, and then shifts to a brighter and more optimistic one. You can use this progression to write emotional, dramatic, or inspirational songs, and play with different tempos, dynamics, and extensions.

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Humberto Domizi

Developer | Typescript, ReactJS, NextJS, NodeJS, NestJS, Laravel | humbertodomizi.com
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In my experience, if we talk about the minor scale, instead of the major scale, this type of progressions are interesting because the first degree to be played is the major sixth, and ends in a dominant fifth degree generating a tension, which, if we repeat the progression, skips its effective passage to the first degree, to play again the sixth degree in its place. In addition, this fifth degree, being a dominant tone within the harmony, can be replaced by a minor second seventh with a flat fifth, or with a semi-diminished augmented seventh chord, generating even more tension. The dominant is so rich that you can even add a fourth, or play a major chord with a minor seventh, it is a very interesting tone.

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Patrick Schneider-Sturm

Advisory Solutions Consultant @ ServiceNow | Business Development, Account Management
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I do personally like the vi-IV-I-V progression but I usually don't approach music scientifically. When creating a melody for a Ballad I of course usually start with a minor chord given the fact it has a melancholy to it. So if we're looking at writing a Song in C major we'd start with A minor already giving a lot of gravitas to the melody. We would continue with F major, C major, and G major, giving an uplift to the melody. Something that then can be used lyrically to end with a glimpse of hope while starting sad.

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3 The i-VI-III-VII progression

This is a common chord progression in minor keys, where the first chord is a minor chord, and the rest are major chords borrowed from the parallel major scale. It consists of the first, sixth, third, and seventh chords of the minor scale, and can be modified by adding a minor seventh to the first chord, or a major seventh to the third chord. The i-VI-III-VII progression creates a sense of mystery, sadness, and intensity, as it combines minor and major sounds, and ends on a dominant chord that does not resolve. You can use this progression to write moody, dark, or powerful songs, and vary the tone and texture with different instruments, effects, and voicings.

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Humberto Domizi

Developer | Typescript, ReactJS, NextJS, NodeJS, NestJS, Laravel | humbertodomizi.com
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Another interesting harmony, since the relationship between the third and seventh degree. We have here the quality that the third degree of the seventh chord is a note previous to the main note of the third chord, so when we do III and then VII, we can hear how the harmony rests and resolves.

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4 The ii-V-I progression

This is a classic chord progression in jazz and other genres that use complex harmony. It consists of the second, fifth, and first chords of the major scale, and can be enriched by adding sevenths, ninths, elevenths, or thirteenths to the chords. The ii-V-I progression creates a sense of sophistication, elegance, and resolution, as it follows a logical and smooth harmonic movement, and ends on the tonic. You can use this progression to write classy, smooth, or romantic songs, and spice up the sound with different modes, substitutions, and alterations.

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Humberto Domizi

Developer | Typescript, ReactJS, NextJS, NodeJS, NestJS, Laravel | humbertodomizi.com
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The most common resolution for classical, tango or Argentine folk music styles. dominant - dominant - main Also valid: 2 - 7 - 1

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5 The vii°-i progression

This is a simple but effective chord progression in minor keys, where the first chord is a diminished seventh chord built on the seventh degree of the minor scale, and the second chord is the tonic minor chord. The vii°-i progression creates a sense of suspense, drama, and finality, as it uses a dissonant and unstable chord that resolves to a consonant and stable one. You can use this progression to write tense, dramatic, or cinematic songs, and enhance the mood with different articulations, modulations, and orchestrations.

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Humberto Domizi

Developer | Typescript, ReactJS, NextJS, NodeJS, NestJS, Laravel | humbertodomizi.com
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This progression has a thousand faces: 7th º - 1st 2nd m7b5 - 1st 7aug dim - 1st All of them are valid and generate a tension that is often necessary to transmit what you want to transmit.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Jyoti Mishra

White Town
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I feel that starting from a theoretical base is topsy-turvy. The chord choice and flow should be determined by what you're feeling, not vice versa. Plus, it makes it too easy for new writers to fall into the "major = happy, minor = sad" fallacy. If you are an artist, a songwriter, you start from what you want to *say* and that shapes everything that follows. Sometime you may start with a vocal harmony, sometimes a bassline, maybe some chords or a lyric. The important thing is to follow the through-line to the centre of the *emotion* - rules be damned!

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What are some chord progressions that create emotional impact in a song?

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1 The I-V-vi-IV progression

2 The vi-IV-I-V progression

3 The i-VI-III-VII progression

4 The ii-V-I progression

5 The vii°-i progression

6 Here’s what else to consider

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