Who this is for
Learners who know the chords of a key and Roman numerals. Already know your progressions? Test out on Day 6.
Best done after: Chords in a Key. It is advice, not a rule: every lesson has short "rusty on…?" boxes for anything you skipped.
Why learn this
A progression is a path through the chords of a key, and a handful of paths power most of the music you know. Learning them as numerals means you can recognise them by ear, write with them and play them in any key.
This program starts with what makes a progression work (home, away, tension), then goes through the classics, so each one is something you can hear and play.
What you will be able to do
- What a progression is, and why they work
- The four-chord pop progression and its variations
- ii–V–I and the main cadences
- Common progressions in minor keys
- Playing any progression in any key
The 6-day plan
- Home, away and back. Hear and build I–IV–V–I.
- The four-chord pop progression. Recognise I–V–vi–IV and its variations.
- Cadences and ii–V–I. Name the main cadences and play ii–V–I.
- Minor progressions. Recognise the common minor-key progressions.
- Any progression, any key. Turn numerals into chords in any key, fast.
- Test day. Prove you can read and play progressions in any key.
How each session works
Every day follows the shape of a workout. It starts with a warm-up that reviews earlier days, then technique: a short, plain explanation with a small interactive tool to try it on. Then come the working sets, drills with instant feedback, and a finisher, a short test with a pass mark so you only build on things you can do. A cool-down recaps the day and previews the next.
Choose your split
The daily split is a session a day: done in a week. The easy split is a session every other day, with rest days between: two weeks, and a gentler pace. On your own pace there is no schedule. Nothing is ever locked, and you can change split at any time.
What comes next
Pentatonic Scales and the Blues: The 6-Day Program or Voice Leading: The 5-Day Program. See the whole training plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common chord progression?
I–V–vi–IV (in C: C, G, Am, F) is probably the best known. I–IV–V and I–vi–IV–V are close behind.
What is a cadence?
A short chord pattern that ends a phrase. The authentic cadence (V–I) sounds like a full stop; the half cadence (ending on V) sounds like a comma.
How do I play a progression in another key?
Write it as Roman numerals, then replace each numeral with the chord from the new key. I–V–vi–IV in G is G, D, Em, C.
Do I need to know chords in a key first?
Yes, that is the foundation. The Chords in a Key program takes seven short days.