Chord degree

The strongest harmonic resolution, dominant moving to tonic. The most fundamental cadence in Western music (e.g. E → A, A7 → D).

The 'Amen' cadence, resolving from the subdominant to the tonic. Softer and more hymn-like than a perfect cadence (e.g. B♭ → F, C → G).

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A7 → D; D → G)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A → E; D → A)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F/A → G; D → E)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. G → F; A7 → G)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F6 → C → G; B♭ → F → C7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm7 → G7; Em7 → A7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → Bm; A7 → F♯m7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. F → B♭ → F → C7; C/G → F → C → G)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. E♭/B♭ → F7 → B♭; A → B7 → E6)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A → A7; F → F7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C → F; D7 → G7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C♯m → A; F♯m → D)

The most common jazz progression, building tension through the supertonic and dominant before resolving to the tonic (e.g. Em7 → A7 → D, Gm6 → C7 → F).

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A7 → D → G; C7 → F → B♭)

Reversed plagal motion through the dominant, common in rock and blues. The IV creates a mixolydian pull to the tonic (e.g. D → C → G, A7 → G → D).

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A7 → D → Bm; D → G → Em)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → Em; E6 → F♯m7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C♯m → F♯m; Dm/A → Gm)

Resolving to the major tonic from the flat seventh, bypassing the usual dominant. Common in jazz and Beatles songs (e.g. G → A, D → E).

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D → A7 → G; C → G → F)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G → C → D; A → D → E7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. E → D; A → G)

The dominant resolves to the relative minor instead of the expected tonic, creating surprise and extending the phrase (e.g. G → Am, E → F♯m).

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm → A; Gm → D)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. G → D → A → D; D7 → A7 → E7 → A7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F → F7 → B♭; Cmaj7 → C7 → F)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C♯m → A → B7; Dm → B♭ → C7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A → C♯m/G♯; B♭ → Dm/A)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → C; F → G7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G → Em → C; C → Am → F)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯m → A; F♯m → A)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯m → B7; Dm7 → G7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. C7 → F → B♭ → F; D → G → C → G)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → Dm; C → Cm)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → G; C → F)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C → F → B♭; A7 → D7sus4 → G)

5-chord degree progression (e.g. D7 → G7 → D7 → A7 → G7; E7 → A7 → E7 → B7 → A7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm → Gm → C; Am7 → Dm → G7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B → B7; E → E7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → F/A; G → D)

Major subdominant darkening to minor before resolving, creating a bittersweet color shift (e.g. D → Dm → A, C → Cm → G/B).

2-chord degree progression (e.g. G♯m → C♯m; Dm/A → Gm)

The classic 1950s cycle through major brightness, relative minor warmth, and subdominant-dominant tension (e.g. G → Em → C → D, C → Am → F → G).

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D♭maj7 → C; E♭ → D)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. E → Am; A7 → Dm)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → C → F; C/E → D7 → G7)

Rotation of the 50s progression starting from the relative minor, creating a minor-to-major resolution arc (e.g. Dm → B♭ → C7 → F, Em → C → D → G).

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F → Dm → Gm; F → Dm → Gm7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A7 → Dm; E7 → Am)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C♯m → G♯m; Bm → F♯m)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. E6 → F♯m7 → B13; F6 → Gm → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → B7; A → F♯7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Em → F; Bm → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D9/F♯ → F; Asus2 → Cmaj7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C/G → F → C; F → B♭ → F)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Em → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯m → E6; Dm7 → C)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A → E → F♯m; C → G → Am)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D7 → A → A7; A♭ → E♭ → E♭7/D)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C7 → F → Fm6; F7 → B♭ → B♭m6)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. A♭ → B♭ → E♭ → Cm; B♭ → C7 → F → Dm)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A7 → C; A → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Bm → A; C♯m → B)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → B; C → Asus2)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. G → C; G7 → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C7 → Fm; B7 → Em)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. E♭6 → B♭ → F; B♭ → F → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A → E7; G7 → D7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → Fm; B7 → F♯m7)

Two plagal motions chained together, descending by fourths. Common in rock and folk (e.g. C → B♭ → F, F → E♭6 → B♭).

4-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → E♭ → Cm → A♭; B7 → E → C♯m → A)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F → B♭7♯9 → E♭6; A/E → D → G)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. G → E7; D → B7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. E♭ → G7/D; E♭7 → G7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C → D; B♭6 → C)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C/E → F → F7; C7 → Fsus4 → F)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A♭ → B♭ → Cm; B♭ → C7 → Dm)

5-chord degree progression (e.g. D → A → D → A → E; A7 → E7 → A7 → E7 → B7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯ → B; A7 → D7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D/F♯ → F)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → Dm/A; C → Em/F♯)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Gm → E♭/B♭ → B♭; Em → C → G6)

The A-section turnaround from Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm', foundational to jazz standards (e.g. Dm7 → G7 → C → Am).

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A → C♯m/G♯ → F♯m; B♭ → Dm/A → Gm)

Circle-of-fifths descent from tonic, a smooth jazz-pop turnaround named for its sweet, easy-listening quality (e.g. C → Am → Dm7 → G7).

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Am → Dm6; Am7 → Dm7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C → E7; D → F♯/A♯)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. B13 → E6 → F♯m7; D7 → G → Am7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A → E → D; F → C → B♭)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G7 → C → Em; B♭7 → E♭ → Gm/D)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm7 → A)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. E → E7 → A; A → A7 → D)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Em → A; Am → D/F♯)

Full circle-of-fifths descent arriving at the tonic, common in jazz and classical harmony (e.g. Am → Dm7 → G7 → C).

4-chord degree progression (e.g. D → A → D → G; E → B7 → E → A)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. B → E → D; B7 → E → D/E)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D♭maj7 → C7 → F; C7 → B7 → E)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A♭ → Fm; A → F♯m)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C7 → Fm → B♭sus4; B7 → Em → A9)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A → E → C♯m; F → C → Am)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C♯m → F♯ → B; C♯m → F♯9 → B9)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Amaj7/B → E → F♯m; G → D → Em)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Am → Bm; Em/G → F♯m)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B → A; B7 → A)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm7/F → F; B♭m → D♭)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C → A7; E♭7 → C7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. C7 → F → Fm6 → C; F7 → B♭ → B♭m6 → F/A)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Em → Dm; F♯m → Em7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. C7 → F → Dm → Gm7; E7 → A → F♯m → Bm7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → F → B♭ → C; D → A → D → E)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Em → G7; Bm → D7)

5-chord degree progression (e.g. F → B♭ → F → B♭ → C; A → D → A → D → E)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F → E♭; C → B♭6)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F → B♭ → C; G7 → C → D)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F → Am)

7-chord degree progression (e.g. G7 → C7 → G7 → D7♯9 → C7 → G7 → D7; G7 → C7 → G → D7 → C7 → G → D7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C → Am → Em; C → Am → Em)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. A → G → A → D; D → C → D → G)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Bm → G; F♯m → D)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A → D → B7; E7 → A → F♯7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. E6 → C; E → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D♭7 → F; F → A7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯m → A7 → D; Am → C/G → F)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm7 → G7; B♭m7 → E♭)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F7 → C → D7; E → B → C♯)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G → Am → Fmaj7; F7 → Gm → E♭/B♭)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯7 → B7 → E7; C♯7 → F♯7 → B7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D → B7 → Em; F → D7 → Gm7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A♭ → Fm → B♭; A → F♯m → B7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D → B → E; D → B7 → E)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Em → F → C; Em → Fmaj7 → C6)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → C; F7 → G7)

5-chord degree progression (e.g. A → A7 → D → A → E7; G → G7 → C7 → G → D7)

5-chord degree progression (e.g. C → D → G → C → G; C → D → G → C9 → G)

6-chord degree progression (e.g. A → D → A → D → A → E; E7 → A7 → E7 → A7 → E7 → B7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D → G → A; D → Gadd9 → A)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm7 → G7 → C)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G7 → B♭ → F; A7 → C → G6)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F → C; C → G)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm7 → G7 → B♭; Am7/G → D9/F♯ → F)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C → Fmaj7; A♭7 → D♭)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. C → G/B; G → D)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A → D → B; A → D → B7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Em → Em7; Am7 → Am6)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F → B♭m7; C7 → Fm)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A → G♯7; E♭ → D7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm → A7; Am → E7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F → Em; B♭ → Am)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯m → G → A; Bm → C → D)

6-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → F → B♭ → F → B♭ → C; D → A → D → A → D → E)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. C → E7 → Am; D → F♯/A♯ → Bm)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → C → F; F → G → C)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A7 → Dm → Gm; E7 → Am → Dm9)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. D → B7 → Em → A9; F → D7 → Gm7 → C7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. C → C7 → F → Fm6; F → F7 → B♭ → B♭m6)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. E7 → D7 → A → D; D → C → G → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Bm → G)

7-chord degree progression (e.g. A → D → A → D → A → D → E; A → D6 → A → D6 → A → D6 → E7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → E♭ → E♭7/D → A♭; C7 → F → F7 → B♭)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. Fm → B♭ → E♭ → E♭7/D; Gm7 → C7 → F → F7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G → E7 → A; D → B7 → E)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A → F♯m → B7; F → Dm7 → G7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. A → F♯7 → B7 → E7; E7 → C♯7 → F♯7 → B7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. A → D → B7 → Em; C7 → F → D7 → Gm7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm → Am7; F♯m7 → C♯m)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. G7 → E♭; A → F)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. A → B♭; B7 → C7)

5-chord degree progression (e.g. A → D → G → D → G; D → G → C → G → C)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Dm7/F → F → C/E; F♯m7 → Amaj7/B → E)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. B7 → E7 → D; B7 → E7 → D7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F → A♭ → B♭; D → F → G)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. A♭ → B♭ → F; C → D → A)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → F; E → G)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G → Am7 → Bm7; C → Dm → Em)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D → F♯m → G; G → Bm → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. E7 → A7; E → A)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. A7 → D → Bm → F♯m; D → G → Em → Bm)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Gm/D → Fm/C → B♭7; G♯m7 → F♯m7 → B7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. D → D7; E → E7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Fm → A♭; Am → C)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. F → C → C7; E → Bsus4 → B7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D → G → C)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. G♯ → A; C7 → D♭)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Fm → G7; Dm → E7)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. Em7 → Bm7; Dm → Am)

5-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → F → B♭ → C → F; F → C → F → G → C)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. D → G → E; G7 → C7 → A7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. C/E → F → C/E → B♭; G7 → C → G → F)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. E → A → E; C/E → F → C)

4-chord degree progression

4-chord degree progression (e.g. A → D → B → E)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F♯m7 → F; Dm7♭5 → D♭maj7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. G → D → E; B♭ → F/A → G)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. Gm → D → Bm; Fm7 → C → Am)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. B♭ → A7)

3-chord degree progression (e.g. E → Am → D/F♯; A7 → Dm → G)

2-chord degree progression (e.g. F → G7)

4-chord degree progression (e.g. F7 → B♭ → Dm/A → Gm; E → A → C♯m → F♯m)