Below you will find examples of basic common chord progressions found in the major keys of Western music. The examples are all in the key of C, but they can be transposed to any key. If you are writing a song for your own voice, you should definitely transpose to the key that best fits your own vocal range. Audio examples might have embellished chords or inversions.

Starting On The I Chord

I – vi – ii – V

Key	I	vi	ii	V
C Major	C	Am	Dm	G

I – vi – IV – V

Key	I	vi	IV	V
C Major	C	Am	F	G

I – V – vi – IV

Key	I	V	vi	IV
C Major	C	G	Am	F

I – iii – vi – IV

Key	I	iii	vi	IV
C Major	C	Em	Am	F

I – iii – vi – I – IV – I- Vsus- V

Key	I	iii	vi	I	IV	I	Vsus	V
C Major	C	Em	Am	C	F	C	Gsus	G

Starting On The ii Chord

ii – V7 – I

Key	ii	V7	I
C Major	Dm	G7	C

ii – V – I – IV

Key	ii	V	I	IV
C Major	Dm	G	C	F

Starting On The iii Chord

iii – vi – IV – I

Key	iii	vi	IV	I
C Major	Em	Am	F	C

Starting On The IV Chord

IV – I – ii – vi

Key	IV	I	ii	vi
C Major	F	C	Dm	Am

IV – I – iii – IVsus

Key	IV	I	iii	IVsus
C Major	F	C	Em	Fsus

Starting On The V Chord

V – IV – vi – I

Key	V	IV	vi	I
C Major	G	F	Am	C

V – vi – IV – IV – V – vi – IV – I

Key	V	vi	IV	IV	V	vi	IV	I
C Major	G	Am	F	F	G	Am	F	G

Starting On The vi Chord

vi – IV – I – V

Key	vi	IV	I	V
C Major	Am	F	C	G

vi – V – I – V

Key	vi	V	I	V
C Major	Am	G	C	G